By Suleman Chitera, Lilongwe, Malawi – July 24, 2025
UTM President Dr. Dalitso Kabambe has reaffirmed his party’s unwavering commitment to gender equality and women empowerment, following a high-level engagement with various women’s rights organizations held in Lilongwe on Wednesday.
The meeting, which brought together representatives from women-focused civil society groups, served as a platform for these organizations to present their manifestos and policy recommendations to the UTM leadership. The groups expressed their appreciation for UTM’s progressive stance on gender inclusion, particularly its emphasis on increasing women’s participation in leadership and governance.
In his address, Dr. Kabambe emphasized that UTM remains the only political party in Malawi with a clear and consistent track record of elevating women into decision-making positions.
“UTM is the only party that truly respects and empowers women,” said Dr. Kabambe. “We have appointed a significant number of women to top positions within both our National Executive Committee (NEC) and Central Executive Committee (CEC).”
He further pointed out that UTM is the only party with two regional Vice Presidents who are highly educated and competent women. In addition, the party’s Treasurer General is a woman, and the Presidential Advisory Council comprises no fewer than two women—demonstrating what he called a “real and practical commitment to inclusive leadership.”
Dr. Kabambe also touched on broader societal attitudes toward women, calling out cultural practices that continue to hold women back from achieving their full potential.
“As men, we tend to suppress women, despite the fact that women often outperform us in dedication and results,” he said. “It is women who are always on the frontline—singing, dancing, and supporting political leaders. In other parts of the world, this is not the case. We must shift this mindset and begin to empower women and girls to take on leadership roles and to be respected in all aspects of society.”
He expressed concern over societal norms that condition women to accept hardship in silence, especially in marriage. “Sometimes it’s troubling to see women advising each other at bridal showers to endure problems in marriage, rather than encouraging one another to speak out and demand better,” he added.
Dr. Kabambe closed his remarks by promising that a future UTM-led government would prioritize policies that promote gender equity, protect women’s rights, and create an environment where both women and men can thrive equally.
The women’s organizations in attendance applauded the UTM leader’s candidness and pledged to continue working closely with the party to push for transformative change that uplifts Malawian women across all sectors.
