By Chisomo Phiri
NGO Gender Coordination Network(NGO-GCN), an organization that promotes gender equality and women empowerment has urged President Dr.Lazarus Chakwera to appoint a female Vice President as a replacement of the late Vice President Dr. Saulos Chilima who died in a plane crash last week.
In a statement, the organization’s chairperson Maggie Kathewera Banda says the appointment of the female Vice President will increase women representation in top positions and politics.
She also believes that Malawi has many capable and qualified women to assume the position of VP.
Reads the statement in part:” We call upon the state president to appoint a female Vice President.
“While we acknowledge the increase in the number of women in the executive arm of government, we are of the view that having a female VP would put women up in the ladder of decision making, thereby not only shifting norms around politics but also ensure that women voices are heard more than before.
“If appointed, the female Vice President will carve a direction for all young aspiring women across the political divide to increase the female representation percentage and break new record.”
It adds:”The appointment of the female Vice President would be a critical policy directive to ensure that 60/40 quota is maintained in all public appointments and requirements, in accordance with Section 11 of the Gender Equality Act (2013).
“This would further Malawi’s progress towards gender parity, as it will joining other countries in this endeavor.
“NGO-GCN is available to support the state president in the promotion of gender equality and women empowerment.”
President Chakwera is yet to appoint the Vice President, with the mandated time off the zones.
Constitutionally, Chakwera was supposed to appoint a new Vice by the end of yesterday, 19 June, 2024.
According to the supreme law, the President is mandated to appoint a replacement within seven days from the time of death of a serving Vice President.
However, it seems there has been a delay in finding the replacement as the days as provided by the law have elapsed.
This is contrary to what the Minister of Information, Moses Kunkuyu told the press on Tuesday that the President will abide by the law in making his appointment.
Currently, Malawians are eager to know who will President Chakwera choose as his Vice.
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