By Burnett Munthali | 8 July 2025
The NGO Gender Coordination Network (NGO-GCN) has expressed satisfaction with the increasing number of women expressing interest to contest in the upcoming 2025 General Elections.
Despite the challenges they continue to face, the organisation believes this is a significant step toward achieving gender equality in political participation.
Speaking during a training session in Mangochi targeting aspiring female candidates from the Eastern Region, NGO-GCN’s Olive Mpina highlighted the positive momentum building among women in politics.
“It is exciting to note that we are seeing new faces and more women stepping forward to contest,” said Mpina.
She acknowledged that while progress is evident, financial constraints and limited support from political parties remain serious obstacles for many women.
Mpina emphasized the need for political parties to be more deliberate in allocating leadership positions to women.
During the session, governance expert Augustine Magolowondo encouraged the participants to make the most of the training opportunity.
He urged them to use the platform to refine their campaign strategies and better position themselves for the electoral process.
The session is part of the broader “Political Empowerment of Women in Malawi” project, which is being implemented with support from UN Women.
The initiative is being funded by Sweden and Norway, both of whom have consistently backed women’s empowerment and gender equality efforts in Malawi.
The presence of new and returning aspirants at the training reflects a growing shift in Malawi’s political landscape, with more women demanding their place at the decision-making table.
NGO-GCN says it will continue to provide platforms for support, capacity building, and advocacy to ensure women are not only visible in elections but also empowered to win and lead.
