MALAWI: President Chakwera’s Cabinet Appointments Meet Gender Equality Requirements

By Smile Hamilton, Malawi 

President Lazarus Chakwera’s recent cabinet appointments have been under scrutiny, with concerns raised about the lack of women’s representation.

However, Malawi State House has dismissed these concerns, stating that the new cabinet fully complies with the Gender Equality Act.

According to Presidential Press Secretary Anthony Kasunda, the 30-member cabinet includes 12 women serving as full cabinet and deputy ministers, accounting for 40% of the appointees.

This meets the requirements of Section 11(1) of the Gender Equality Act, which stipulates that at least 40% of appointments in the public service should be women.

Notably, President Chakwera is not included in the cabinet for gender representation calculations, as the office of the President is not subject to appointment.

The President’s commitment to gender equality is evident in his cabinet selections, which aim to promote diversity and inclusion in the government.

President Chakwera has been a champion of gender equality, and his efforts have been recognised nationally and internationally.

In 2022, he renewed his commitment to achieving 50/50 representation in Parliament, pledging to ensure that more women are elected into Parliament to achieve gender equality.

The current cabinet appointments have been applauded for meeting the requirements of the Gender Equality Act.

Women’s groups across the country have praised President Chakwera’s efforts, but have also emphasised that more needs to be done to achieve the required 50% representation of women at all levels.

Overall, President Chakwera’s cabinet appointments demonstrate his commitment to promoting gender equality and diversity in the government.

As Malawi continues to work towards achieving greater representation of women in leadership positions, the President’s efforts serve as a positive step in the right direction.