On 16 September, Malawians will head to the polls in what promises to be a pivotal election. But in a field of 17 presidential contenders, only one woman is running: former president Joyce Banda. In parliament, the numbers paint a similarly stark picture — out of 193 MPs, just 45 are women.
It’s a statistic that tells its own story: women, who make up more than half of Malawi’s population, remain largely on the sidelines of political power. But a new grassroots effort wants to change that narrative.
Enter the Women’s Manifesto Movement, a dynamic coalition of activists and community leaders who are training, mentoring, and energising women across Malawi to step into leadership roles. Their mission is simple but urgent: ensure that women’s voices are not just heard during elections, but embedded in policymaking, legislation, and the future of the nation.
In the lakeside town of Salima, the energy of this movement is visible. Women gather in workshops, trading stories of resilience, learning campaign skills, and strategising for how to overcome systemic barriers. What’s on the agenda? Building confidence, tackling voter intimidation, fundraising for campaigns, and challenging deeply ingrained cultural attitudes about gender and leadership.
For many participants, this is about more than representation — it’s about reshaping democracy itself. When half the population is underrepresented in parliament, critical issues like maternal health, education for girls, gender-based violence, and economic opportunities for women risk being sidelined.
Former president Joyce Banda’s candidacy may grab headlines, but the Women’s Manifesto Movement is betting on something more enduring: a future where women in Malawi run not just for president but across all levels of leadership, and where young girls grow up seeing political power as something that belongs to them too.
As one organiser put it during a recent training session: “The ballot is not just about electing leaders. It’s about reclaiming our voices — and our future.”
✨ Takeaway: The September election may highlight the challenges women still face in Malawian politics, but the seeds being planted now suggest a longer-term transformation. If the Women’s Manifesto Movement succeeds, the next generation won’t just be voting for women — they’ll be voting with them.
