Despite Malawi’s legal framework designed to promote fair and inclusive electoral competition, the country’s general elections held on September 16, 2025, were once again overshadowed by practices that continue to marginalize women in politics.

From voter handouts to online abuse and political violence, a range of systemic challenges disproportionately affected female candidates -raising fresh concerns about the nation’s commitment to gender equality in governance.

These issues were the focal point of a high-level dialogue held last Friday in Lilongwe, convened by the NGO-Gender Coordination Network (NGO-GCN). The event brought together Secretary Generals from several political parties under the banner of the “Political Empowerment of Women in Malawi project”, supported by UN Women with funding from the governments of Sweden and Norway.

“This is not just another meeting. Today, we are laying the foundation for transformative change,” said Maggie Kathewera Banda, Chairperson of NGO-GCN, as she opened the forum.

Banda emphasized that political parties—often described as the “gatekeepers” to elected office—must take greater responsibility in removing the structural and cultural barriers that exclude women from fully participating in the political process.

A “Three-Pronged Attack” on Women’s Political Ambitions

The forum identified a recurring pattern of what it termed a three-pronged attack on women in politics: the widespread misuse of voter handouts, escalating political violence, and unchecked cyberbullying. These practices not only discourage female participation but also severely undercut the credibility of Malawi’s democratic process.

Gregorio Lemani, Secretary General of the United Democratic Front (UDF), criticized the weak enforcement of laws banning voter handouts, describing the practice as a major contributor to the uneven electoral playing field.

“We must move beyond lip service,” he said. “If we don’t tackle these issues decisively, we’re effectively locking women out of leadership.”

Echoing this sentiment, Esther Ng’ong’ola Chabwera, Deputy Director of Administration in the Ministry of Gender, called on political parties and election stakeholders to recommit to Malawi’s national gender equality strategy.

She lamented the current state of women’s representation in Parliament, pointing out that only 48 out of 225 parliamentary seats were won by women in the recent elections.

Toward a Unified Reform Agenda

In a promising step forward, the forum saw the launch of a cross-party coalition aimed at developing actionable strategies to improve gender parity in politics. Among its top priorities are the introduction of internal gender quotas, structured mentorship programs, and dedicated financial support for female candidates.

The coalition also pledged to establish a set of clear terms of reference to guide its post-2025 efforts -ensuring that commitments made during the forum translate into real, measurable progress.