Member of Parliament for Mzimba North East Constituency Olipa Muyaba Chiluba has called on delegates at the UTM convention to vote for more women leaders.
The convention is slated for Bingu International Conference Centre on December 17.
“I would like to urge delegates at our Convention on 17 December to vote for women. They should also vote for me, I am contesting for Mzimba North East,” said Muyaba, a UTM member herself.
Commenting on the current the 16 Days of Activism Against Gender-Based Violence which was launched in Malawi on 25 November, 2018, Muyaba highlighted a lack of money as a factor that increases vulnerability of women in politics to Gender- Based Violence.
“Female aspirants are prone to violence most of the time. Men try to look down upon us and they capitalize on petty issues. Whatever a woman is doing, maybe that women is not married, they capitalize on that and they tend to talk bad,” said Muyaba Chiluba.
She, however, said that the newly enforced Political Parties Bill could assist in alleviating some of the violence’s that women face during campaigns.
“Most women do not have money. Men go out and give a lot of money instead of campaigning based on issues. Now that they have passed the Political Parties Bill, I hope they will implement it to stop the things that stop women from campaigning,” said Muyaba Chiluba.
In her constituency, Muyaba Chiluba is likely to face another strong woman leader Catherine Gotani Hara of the Malawi Congress Party in the May 21, 2019, Tripartite Elections.
Malawi launched the 16 Days of activism against Gender based violence on 25 November. Minister of Gender, Children, Disability and Social Welfare Cecilia Chazama presided over the launch.
Theme of campaign is The 16 Day Campaign is observed from November 25, which is the International Day for the Elimination Violence Against Women, to December 10, Human Rights Day.
Do it with care pliz