Malawi women have launched a Women’s Manifesto in which they have declared: “We want change and we will not wait for it, we will make it happen.”
The Women’s Manifesto is a document consolidating voices of women from different backgrounds to ensure that their demands on critical issues affecting them are heard and put into practice for the promotion of gender equality.
Over 300 women, among them four cabinet ministers, the European Union Ambassador, British High Commissioner, the Irish Aid Ambassador and other Heads of Mission, female members of parliament and traditional chiefs gathered at the Bingu International Convention Centre (BICC) in the Malawi capital Lilongwe to witness the launch, a second of it’s kind after another manifesto was put together prior to the 2019 tripartite elections.
The women agreed that gender equality must move beyond rhetoric and become a lived reality and this is the time to act.
Presenting a keynote address, prominent South African politician and academician Dr. Naledi Grace Pandor, challenged Malawian women to never wait for change to happen but to always strive to make it happen.
Pandor, who is also Nelson Mandela Foundation Chairperson, encouraged women not to trade their rights for a ‘privileged’ position or money saying women’s rights “are sacred.”
British High Commissioner to Malawi Fiona Ritchie told the women’s gathering the UK Government continues to be dedicated to gender equality in Malawi through various initiatives such as the Pamodzi Kuthetsa Nkhanza Program.
“This Manifesto is not just a document—it’s a call to action, a tool for accountability, and a blueprint for systemic reforms. It’s a bold declaration that women’s rights are human rights, and the time for change is now. When women are empowered, economies grow. When women are included, communities thrive. Gender equality is a catalyst for innovation, productivity, and prosperity,” she said.
Taking her turn, WOLREC Executive Director Maggie Kathewera Banda emphasised that the Women’s Manifesto will serve as a guide for engaging duty bearers, helping them understand the specific demands and expectations of women across the country.
“We will engage presidential candidates from various political parties in Malawi and ensure they sign commitment cards as a pledge to prioritize women’s issues when they assume office,” she said.
The event was also supported by male champions, representatives from civil society, Mayor for Lilongwe City Council Esther Sagawa and women from across Malawi.
The launch was facilitated by the Women’s Legal Resources Centre (WOLREC), Oxfam (Malawi) and the NGO Gender Coordination Network.
