BY BLAIR MHONE
President Lazarus Chakwera has hailed the role women have played in the development of the country and says his government remains steadfast in supporting women initiatives through policy and legislative restructuring, political will and resource mobilisation to drive their socioeconomic growth.
The president made the assertion today when he opened the High Level Dialogue on Generation Equality and Women Leadership Conference at Bingu International Conference Centre in Lilongwe.
During the opening speech, President Chakwera said Malawi is a country where the contribution of women is highly evident especially at the highest pinnacle of administrative and political governance structures.
“Not only do we boast of eminent women leaders in higher echelons of social order, but we also celebrate millions of hardworking women who are toiling every day to make ends meet.
“I implore upon every Malawian to subscribe to my administration’s policy direction of equipping our women with requisite skills, resources and goodwill for them to excel in all their respective undertakings,” said President Chakwera.
In attendance is former Malawi president Joyce Banda and in her opening remarks she said economic empowerment in uplifting women should be a priority as well as removing barriers for them to aspire to hold political and other decision making positions.
“There are so many women who can make good leaders but they are failing to do so because men are at an advantage when it comes to financial resources,” she said.
Meanwhile the conference has also seen some notable African women leaders like former president of Liberia Ellen Johnson Sirleaf in attendance.
In her speech, Johnson Sirleaf said women are currently breaking barriers in various sectors.
“Women are now holding key positions in various institutions but also being heads of state but the progress cannot stop there as there are still many challenges that women face,” she stressed.
She also called on women to stand up to fight for equity.
She then commended President Lazarus Chakwera for elevating women and advised him to continue doing more for women.
