By Edwin Mauluka

Chitipa North MP Faless Debrah Moyo has called out gender imbalance in parliamentary debates, urging the Malawi National Assembly to ensure that both men and women are equally recognized to contribute.

Speaking on a point of order during Tuesday’s session on the presidential statement delivered on October 31, Moyo protested after observing that only men were being given the floor by First Deputy Speaker Victor Musowa.

“Since we started this morning, it is only men that have been recognized to speak. No woman has spoken since morning,” she said. “If we look at the data, how many men and women have been recognized? We need to balance it up so that women can also speak in this August House.”

Moyo’s remarks echo long-standing advocacy for greater inclusion of women’s voices in national decision-making, particularly in Parliament, where only 48 out of 229 seats are held by women.

In her contribution to the general debate, Moyo also commended the government for introducing free secondary school education and abolishing some fees but warned against a decline in standards.

“Sometimes free things compromise quality,” she said. “It is my wish that the Ministry of Education ensures that quality and discipline are maintained.”

The MP further urged the government to abolish certain fees in semi-private schools and make schooling mandatory to curb child marriages and child labor.

Efforts are ongoing to raise women’s representation and influence in the 229-member Parliament, but Moyo’s call highlighted that equal presence must translate into equal participation.