Former Malawi president Joyce Banda has pledged to champion women’s welfare throughout her presidential campaign and, if elected, during her time in office.

Banda made the commitment when she met leaders of the Women’s Manifesto Movement which is being spearheaded by the NGO Gender Coordination Network (NGO-GCN).

“I have been a campaigner for women empowerment and gender equality all my life, so you can be sure I will continue,” Banda, who is president of the People’s Party (PP), said.

The Women’s Manifesto is an all-encompassing women movement that aims to highlight systemic challenges women face in Malawi and propose clear, actionable demands to national leaders to address them.

As Malawi prepares for tripartite elections in September, the movement is engaging in various election related activities, including meeting with leaders of all political parties to secure firm commitments on gender equality.

The PP leader, who ruled Malawi between April 2012 and May 2014, is the only female candidate, competing against 19 men in Malawi presidential elections slated for September 16 this year.