As Malawi approaches the 2025 general elections, a vital and often underrepresented voice in the political discourse demands urgent attention: the voice of women.
Malawi’s female population constitutes more than half of the country’s 20 million citizens, yet their concerns, priorities, and aspirations are still marginalized in political party manifestos and decision-making processes.
According to the National Statistical Office (NSO), women make up 51.5% of the population, but as of the 2019 elections, only 45 women were elected out of 193 Members of Parliament, representing just 23.3% of the legislature.
Despite the progressive Gender Equality Act of 2013—which aims for 50:50 representation in all public service positions—implementation remains slow and inconsistent, particularly within political parties that often sideline women during candidate selection.
What women want in the 2025 election is not a mere symbolic presence, but substantive engagement with policies that address economic hardship, maternal healthcare, gender-based violence (GBV), education for girls, and land ownership rights.
Afrobarometer’s 2022 Malawi survey showed that 74% of women believe leaders “do not listen” to them, and nearly 65% of women respondents felt that political parties “only use women for votes, not for leadership.”
These perceptions reveal deep-seated frustrations with political tokenism, where women are mobilized during campaigns but excluded from real influence when it comes to policymaking and leadership roles.
Women’s groups such as the NGO-Gender Coordination Network (NGO-GCN) and the 50:50 Campaign Management Agency have emphasized the need for party manifestos to be gender-responsive and grounded in real, community-identified needs.
A 2024 policy brief by Oxfam Malawi and ActionAid stressed that women across rural and urban areas consistently cite access to affordable agricultural inputs, business capital for informal enterprises, and protection against domestic violence as top priorities.
In rural districts like Ntchisi, Dedza, and Mangochi, focus group discussions have revealed that women are also calling for access to clean water, electricity, and mobile health clinics, especially in hard-to-reach areas where maternal and child mortality remain high.
Urban women, particularly in areas like Lilongwe, Blantyre, and Mzuzu, have raised concerns about the rising cost of living, insecure informal employment, and sexual harassment in public and private workplaces.
Crucially, Malawian women are demanding legal reforms and enforcement to tackle sexual and gender-based violence more decisively, with faster prosecution of GBV cases and establishment of victim support units in all police stations.
Political parties that wish to secure the female vote in 2025 must demonstrate commitment beyond rhetoric—they must ensure women are on the ballot, not just in support roles, and that their platforms reflect gender-equal policy proposals.
The role of women in democracy is not limited to voting; they are also agents of change, educators, community organizers, and custodians of social values, and their empowerment enhances governance quality.
Young women in particular are increasingly vocal, using digital platforms like TikTok, WhatsApp, and Facebook to discuss political issues, highlight inequality, and challenge the status quo.
This trend signals a generational shift where young, educated women are no longer content with passive participation; they want political inclusion, economic opportunity, and social justice.
Civil society must strengthen voter education programs tailored to women, particularly in local languages and accessible formats, to boost female turnout and informed decision-making in the 2025 elections.
Development partners, including UN Women and the EU, continue to support efforts to level the playing field, but without internal party reforms and genuine political will, systemic exclusion will persist.
The Malawi Electoral Commission (MEC) also bears responsibility to ensure a fair and inclusive electoral process by enforcing gender equity in candidate registration, campaign financing, and media coverage.
Ultimately, the 2025 election is a litmus test for Malawi’s commitment to gender equality—not just as a constitutional principle but as a lived political reality.
Women across the nation are speaking up, and the question for political leaders is simple: are you truly listening?
Because what women want in the 2025 election is not a favor or a footnote—they want justice, power, opportunity, and a nation that values their voices.
And if ignored again, they may very well decide the outcome with their silence—or their vote.