By Edwin Mbewe
GABORONE-(Maravi Post)-In a powerful keynote address during a regional International Women’s Day webinar attended by over 120 participants, the Chief Executive Officer of the African Union Sports Council (AUSC) Region 5, Stanley Mutoya, issued a strong call for urgent action to empower women in sport.
Speaking under the theme “Accelerating Action: Empowering Women for a Brighter Future,” Mutoya emphasized the need to bridge gender gaps in sports, noting that women remain underrepresented in leadership, coaching, and decision-making roles.
Citing global statistics, Mutoya highlighted that only 13 percent of Olympic coaches are women, and fewer than one in three sports leadership positions are held by women.
In Africa, only 11 percent of National Olympic Committees are led by women, with many federations recording less than 25 percent female representation.
“There is no tool for development more effective than the empowerment of women,” Mutoya said, quoting the late Kofi Annan, while stressing the need for international investment in women’s advancement.
Highlighting progress within Region 5, he pointed to initiatives such as the Women Leadership Development Programme, the RASA Women’s Coach of the Year category, and Women in Sport forums.
In 2024, 42 percent of RASA nominees were women, and over 60 young women benefited from leadership and entrepreneurship training through regional academies.
Mutoya also referenced data from the McKinsey Global Institute, which estimates that closing gender gaps in Africa could add $316 billion to the continent’s GDP by 2030. “Empowering women is not a charitable act,” he stated. “It is a smart, strategic, and moral imperative.”
His keynote concluded with a call to action for governments, federations, media, sponsors, and individuals to promote equity, invest in women-led initiatives, and create platforms for women to thrive in sport. Quoting Nobel Laureate Wangari Maathai, he added, “The higher you go, the fewer women there are.”
Mutoya reaffirmed AUSC Region 5’s commitment to championing inclusivity and accelerating meaningful change.
“Let us build a future where no girl is limited and no woman is invisible. The brighter future starts now—with you, with me, with all of us,” he said.
Meanwhile, the Vice President of the Sports Writers Association of Malawi (SWAM), Lucy Kadzongwe, praised Mutoya for his advocacy and urged governments in the region to increase investment in women’s sports.
“It is crucial to empower women in sports, as we are a minority in the field. We have the same capabilities to develop different sports disciplines.
“I am grateful for the support Region 5 is providing to women, and I encourage them to continue,” said Kadzongwe.
Malawi celebrated International Women’s Day in Sport on Wednesday, March 26, 2025, at the Kamuzu Institute for Sports in Lilongwe.