LILONGWE-(MaraviPost)-President Lazarus Chakwera on Monday, July 21, 2025 endorsed Women’s Manifesto that pushes political parties leaders to include the document in their manifestos once voted onto power.
Chakwera endorsed the document when women civil rights groups presented the manifesto at Kamuzu Palace in capital Lilongwe ahead of September 16 polls.
This also comes barely two days after the Malawi leader and governing Malawi Congress Party (MCP) launched Manifesto and campaign.
“I acknowledge the importance of the Women’s
Manifesto as a tool of civic engagement and
participatory democracy. The presence of Hon. Jean Sendeza is due to the fact that since the CSOs are meeting you as MCP Presidential Candidate, she is here as MCP Director of Women and Lead of MCP’s Women’s Campaign.
“The emphasize that gender equality is not a favour but a long-overdue right and national necessity. My administration remains committed to the
advancement of women—not just as a goal, but as a
foundation of national development.”
Chakwera linked between 2020 and 2025 Manifestos:, “I Commend the Women’s Manifesto as a template
that aligns with your own Manifesto, which places
the advancement of women as a top objective of
each of the five pillars of Food Security, Job
Creation, Wealth Creation, Governance Reform, and
Public Service Delivery.
“I emphasize that the Super-Hi 5 Commitments made
to women in the 2020 Manifesto have been halfcompleted, hence the need for carrying them over
to the 2025 Manifesto to complete the Women’s
empowerment effort you have started”.
He added, “When we launched our 2020 manifesto, we were full of vision—but not yet full of understanding of
the true magnitude of the system we were entering.
“Today, with the benefit of experience, we have
produced a Manifesto that is rooted in a clear grasp
of the institutional and structural barriers that must
be overcome to truly change the fortunes of women.
I therefore encourage you to study it thoroughly
because I will be relying on partnering with you in
its implementation.”
The Malawi leader specific Commitments on the Manifesto towards women, “We have made a significant number of commitments to women, both directly and indirectly;For example, we have committed to change the Gender Equality Act to introduce the requirement of 50:50 gender representation in leadership across all sectors, including Cabinet, which will alsoinclude at least 2 seats for women under the age of 35.
“We have committed to Expand maternal healthcare
access and eliminate preventable maternal deaths,
and I have already secured 30 million dollars to
launch a Presidential Initiative on Mother and Child,
which is in the Manifesto”.
He added, “We have committed to Prioritize women in land access, education access, health access, credit
support, business training, and social protection.
We have committed to give access to nutritional
screening and support to women who are in Mother
Groups”.
Chakwera nods to the Manifesto, “I therefore Endorse the Women’s Manifesto.” “In endorsing this Manifesto, we are not just promising—we are prioritizing women, budgeting for women, and delivering for women with resolve.”
“No woman and no girl should ever again be asked
to wait for justice, for equality, and for prosperity.”
“Thank you for your support, and I pledge you the
best of mine”.
In her remarks, Wolrec Executive Director Maggie Banda lauded Chakwera for endorsing the women manifesto saying its a clear sign of listening leadership
Banda therefore expects the women Manifesto to be implemented fully once Chakwera attains the second term in office.