Malawi’s progress on women’s political participation shows what is possible, but also highlights the urgent need for sustained action. Through initiatives like the 50:50 Campaign, women’s representation in Parliament has grown, proving that targeted advocacy, civic education, and grassroots mobilisation can drive change. However, entrenched barriers persist.


Speaking on behalf of the Minister of Gender, Children, Disability and Social Welfare during a Regional Women Parliamentarians Learning Visit in Lilongwe, Hon. Dr Jean Mathanga, Minister of Energy and Mining, stressed that women continue to face limited access to campaign financing, harmful social norms that frame leadership as male, and the unequal burden of caregiving responsibilities. She called for deliberate, coordinated efforts to dismantle these systemic challenges.


Convened by Oxfam in Southern Africa Malawi Programme, in partnership with the Parliamentary Women’s Caucus, the visit brought together women parliamentarians and civil society representatives from Zimbabwe, Zambia, and Mozambique. The exchange created space to share lessons from Malawi’s elections and strengthen regional strategies to advance women’s political leadership.


Participants underscored that violence, financial exclusion, and discriminatory norms remain widespread across the region. Hon. Otilia Sibanda, MP from Zimbabwe, highlighted the importance of stronger regional collaboration to address these barriers and enable more women to lead.


Hon. Mary Maulidi Khembo, Chairperson of the Malawi Parliamentary Women’s Caucus, emphasised that increasing numbers alone is not enough. “Transformative leadership is about influence, accountability, and delivering real change for women and communities,” she said.


Civil society organisations also called for stronger regional coordination. Maggie Kathewera Banda of WOLREC and the Women’s Manifesto Movement urged joint action to advance affirmative policies and support women leaders, noting that shared challenges demand collective solutions.


Oxfam reaffirmed the importance of the learning visit as a platform for shaping responsive, feminist-driven interventions. “Understanding women’s lived political realities is critical to building coordinated regional efforts that support more women to lead,” said Gloria Fulo, Oxfam in Southern Africa.


With continued support from partners including Oxfam America, the European Union in Malawi, and Irish Aid, there is a clear opportunity to intensify advocacy, strengthen alliances, and accelerate progress towards inclusive and equitable political leadership across Southern Africa.


Click to watch the highlights:  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6ksJ7bPaIE0