President Lazarus Chakwera has pledged to champion the election of women to not less than half of parliamentary seats come 2025. 

Chakwera said this in Lilongwe during the official launch of the High Level Dialogue on Generation Equality and Women Leadership in Africa.

He said: “I will do everything I can to champion the election of women to no less than half of the seats in parliament during the next election.

“I am determined to live up to the values to which I committed my country at the Paris Forum under the feminist movement and leadership theme where I pledged to fund and support diverse feminists activities.”

Speaking during the launch, which also saw a participation of various influential female leaders including former heads of state and former vice-presidents, Chakwera said his administration is committed to ending institutional gender inequalities in government.

Among other commitments, Chakwera said his administration has a women representation of 41% of the seats in his cabinet.

“My administration remains steadfast in supporting women initiatives through policy and legislative restructuring, political will and resource mobilisation to drive their socioeconomic growth,” said Chakwera.

The Malawi Leader has since been awarded for his role in empowering women in the country.

Some of the notable figures at the event were the former county’s president Joyce Banda and her counterpart Ellen Johnson Sirleaf from Liberia.