By Draxon Maloya
Catherine Mzumara, UTM’s Vice President for the Northern Region and Shadow parliamentary candidate for Mzimba North, has highlighted the persistent imbalance in parliamentary representation, despite women parliamentarians delivering impressive results in their constituencies.
Mzumara emphasized the need for increased support for women candidates, citing significant challenges in accessing campaign resources.
“Women are at a disadvantage when it comes to mobilizing campaign resources compared to their male counterparts,” she noted.
To address this, Mzumara has engaged in discussions with key electoral partners, including UN Women, UNDP, and the 50-50 Campaign, to provide assistance regardless of party affiliations.
Furthermore, Mzumara expressed concerns about the inadequate and delayed delivery of campaign materials, such as calendars, which are often supplied in limited quantities and too close to the campaign period.
In contrast to their male counterparts, Mzumara observed that women parliamentarians have demonstrated exceptional performance in their constituencies.
“Most women parliamentarians have shown tremendous progress, driven by their natural inclination to care for their constituents and alleviate human suffering,” she added.
Mzumara’s comments underscore the importance of promoting gender equality in politics and addressing the systemic barriers that hinder women’s participation.
