Women councillors across the country have accused some district commissioners (DCs) and chief executive officers of ill-treatment, saying they do not respect their activities.

Speaking during the opening of a two-day National Women Councillors Annual General Assembly in Mzuzu, Mchengautuwa West Ward councilor Pyela Chiumia said some DCs and CEOs do not invite women councillors for council meetings.

Women Caucus vice-president Esther Sagawa, who is also deputy Mayor of Lilongwe City Council, said women councillors are often sidelined.

She said: “Council meetings are important because as female councillors we share ideas but also discuss issues that affect us in our wards.

Sagawa: Women councillors are sidelined

“However, the most concerning issue is about giving support to female councilors.”

Sagawa said the issues emanate from less prioritisation of female caucus activities in councils, calling on the ministry to intervene.

“Even when you look at full council meeting minutes, you would see that even minutes about women are less discussed than any other issues. So there is less priority.

“We are suggesting that during one of our meetings we should have DCs ad CEOs so that they appreciate what we discuss. We capacitate our women so that they go back to their council to better deal with women issues but also gender based violence.

On her part, Deputy Minister of Labour Halima Daud, besides asking the councillors to work with chiefs to end gender-based violence, also urged the Malawi Local Government Association (Malga) to call for meeting, where all concerned parties can convene and iron out differences.

“They have complained a lot that they are not being handled well, the chief executives and DCs, where they are coming from. That’s why I have asked Malga so that we can have a joint meeting with councillors and DCs and CEOs so that we iron out the issues.

Meanwhile, Malga executive director Hadrod Mkandawire has said such meetings are important as they bring together neglected voice’s and policymakers, to find solutions.

“Women play a critical role in the upbringing of the society but are marginalised in terms of leadership positions. So, if women are not well represented from the local level, we may not have decisions that are of interest to all people.

The meeting which has brought together 66 women, has been sponsored by Oxfam Trocaire and Innobuild, among others, ends today with the election of new office bearers.

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