DON’T LET ANYBODY STEAL YOUR THUNDER

BY PATRICK BOTHA

“It is high time men stopped looking at women as a threat but rather as equal partners in
development.” Dr. Jessie Kabwila Kapasula told the nation during a public debate on “The Role of the
Youth in Promoting Women’s Rights” at J.F. Kennedy Auditorium in Lilongwe last Friday.

The function, which was organised by Youth Association for Democracy in Malawi (YADEMA) and
broadcasted live on Zodiak Broadcasting Station (ZBS) and Trans World Radio, was attended by
journalism students from Malawi Institute of Journalism (MIJ), Witwatersrand College, as well as journalists
from other media houses.

Kabwila Kapasula, who was one of the panellists at the function, advised the youth not to be
manipulated by misguided people who only see women as objects for selfish political ambitions and
domestic workers.

“The men who continually oppress women do so because of the fear of what women can become if
they are empowered? But I ask you, the youth today, to hang on to your strength in this fight. You the
youth are a powerful engine for change. So do not let anybody steal your thunder,” she called out.

She gave her role, in leading the fight for academic freedom in the country, as an example of what an
empowered generation of women can contribute to national development – be it political, economic,
or academic spheres.

Kabwila Kapasula, who is the Acting President of Chancellor College Academic Staff Union, also denounced songs and language of popular culture, which portray women as weak, less capable, submissive and dependent on men.

She said that these things look very innocent on the face of it, but are counterproductive to women
empowerment because they can be very oppressive and disempowering. Kabwila went on to urge
women to liberate themselves from this. “Know that from liberation comes innovation,” she said.

In a special way, she commended the level of maturity displayed by the students present at the
function. “They displayed a rare level of maturity. They were not busy texting or ‘Facebook-ing’. They
were attentive and gave very mature contributions.”

Habiba Osman, a very outspoken human rights activist who was also part of the panel, urged
government and other political parties to stop using the youth to meet selfish political ends.

She said that the government should go beyond the formality of writing and enacting laws on protection of
women. “There should be effective implementation of these laws,” she furthered.

To the youth she said “don’t let politicians use you to do their dirty work – either as cadets, or young
democrats. Let them do it themselves.”

On freedom of dressing, one right that saw vendors undressing women wearing pairs of trousers
recently, Osman explained that women are protected by the law of Malawi as enshrined in the
Constitution which is the supreme law of the land.

“If some men do not like what I am wearing, why don’t they just look the other way?”

Another panellist, Dr Augustine Titani Magolondo, said the youth of today, most of whom were born
during referendum, have now reached voting age and are a unique age with a unique culture.

“These youth are born in an information age (technology) and information is power. They are very
networked through Facebook and Twitter, among others and are much more committed to make a
difference.”

Dr. Titani further said these youth are the investment for future Malawi and look at the long term;
what Malawi will be in 15 or 20 years to come.

One of the participants, Aisha Mauntala said the debate was a welcome development since women
have been looked down upon for a long time. She pointed out the fact that men were sending texts
to the program as good feedback because it meant that men were actually listening.

Wapona Kita who is YADEMA’s president who was present at the function said he was pleased with
the turn up and that it had gone smoothly.

Wapona also explained that the activity had been funded by young Malawians both within the
country and the diaspora.

He said they are planning on conducting a similar debate in Mzuzu in the very near future.

Women’s Rights

By Japheth Thole Phiri

Women’s rights has been an issue and a point of discussion not only in Malawi but also in other countries across Africa.  Most of the countries speak of the violations of women’s rights.  Now women’s rights have been included in the constitution of many countries in Africa.

Though this is so, many are still taking advantage of women in Malawi.

Women are abandoned by their husbands, others beaten by their husbands and a lot of abuses which free women from enjoying their rights.  Why are cases of abuse to women on the rise in Malawi? After all, the Malawian constitution states that women`s rights should be protected.

Chief Matope of Ndirande said cases of abuse against women are on rise in Malawi but most of the women don’t want to report about this, they don’t want to put their husbands on air or on judgment.  So when they don’t report, nobody will take it as a crime to abandon women or to violate their rights.  Matope said women should start understanding their rights and report cases of abuse for this cycle to end.

Southern Region Police Spokesperson Superintendent Davie Chingwalu said it is true that a lot of women are abused in this country but it is sad that others don’t want to report such acts to police.

“I can’t say this is not happening in Malawi because we have a number of cases regarding abuses of women`s rights, however other cases are still not reported which is making this tendency difficult to discourage.  I think women should take it as their chance to report any cases of abuse.  We really dislike this,” said Chingwalu.

Pastor White Phiri of Apostolic Faith Mission said women, especially in remote areas, don’t know the rights that protect them from abuse.  This is keeping them in hell of their own husbands making because they think that any kind of abuse is part of marriage life.  They think that is how husbands should be and should treat their wives whenever something has gone wrong.

“Women should be taught their rights in brief because a lot of women are dying of ignorance about their own rights: how can they stand on their own rights if they don’t know?  As a result a lot of women in rural areas are threatened because of ignorance,” he said.

It is true that women are very important in our country as well as in the world, but the way some men treat them means they don’t care about their importance.

Women are sometimes regarded only as children making machines and that they don’t have any decision making ability.

Malawi is on target of raising standards of women in this country: that is what everyone supports but we have to make it everyone`s responsibility and not leaving it only to the state.