Mutharika Includes 6 Women in the New Cabinet

Malawi President Peter Mutharika yesterday appointed new cabinet that has accommodated members from Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) and its bedfellow United Democratic Front (UDF).

The 32-cabinet member has new faces including Lilian Patel, Chimunthu Banda, Atupere Muluzi and among others.

Only six women have been included in the new cabinet including Honourable Mary Navicha who has retained her Ministry of Gender, Child Development and Community Development position and her Deputy is Honourable Grace Kwelepeta while DPP’s Secretary General Grezelder Jeffrey, has been chosen as Deputy Minister of Local Government and Rural Development.

New face from UDF, Lilian Patel has been chosen as Minister of Labour, Skills and Innovation.

Other women include Honourable Esther Majaza as Deputy Minister of Irrigation and Water Development, Honourable Martha Chiuluntha Ngwira as Deputy Minister of Youth, Sports and Culture Honourable  and Mary Clara Makungwa, Minister of Population Planning and Social Welfare.

The appointments are with effect from 16th March, 2020 but is this enough for women who are battling for gender equality?