As a Pan African organization that works for the empowerment of women, FEMNET said considers these developments a threat to democracy in Africa. 

Malawi is holding the Chair of the African Union which has clearly indicated its support for equal participation of men and women in the democratic processes of the member states as candidates for all the elective posts, as voters and electoral officials. The Africa Charter for Democracy, Elections and Governance sets the standard for sustaining Democratic governance on the Continent.

In a press release the group said: “we would like to stand in solidarity with the Honorable Vice President of the Republic of Malawi and all the women politicians. We also call upon the President of Malawi, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Ministry of Justice to accelerate the process for Malawi to be a party to the Africa Charter for Democracy, Elections and Governance.

We feel that such attacks on female politicians are totally unacceptable in the 21st Century and we condemn it in the strongest terms. On August 8th 2010 Honourable Anita Kalinde, was attacked at a public function where Malawian President Bingu wa Mutharika was also present. Hon. Kalinde was attacked because of her alleged support to the Vice President. For Malawi to remain a shining star in Africa, the leadership must ensure that freedom of expression and association are respected and guaranteed for every person. These are fundamental rights in any democratic society.”

Malawi is still lagging behind in terms of realizing the commitment made in the SADC Gender Protocol which sets the target of achieving gender equality in leadership and decision making at all levels by 2015.

Currently Malawi has 40 women Members of Parliament out of a total of 192 parliamentarians which is even less than the 30% representation standard set by the African Union. It is therefore incumbent on the leaders of Malawi and most especially HE President Bingu wa Mutharika as the Chairperson of the African Union to lead by example. Every eligible person man or woman has a right to contest for any office in her country and this right must be upheld by every progressive democracy in Africa.

FEMNET calls upon President Bingu wa Mutharika to instil discipline in the ruling party and also assure the protection of the rights of all party members to actively engage in the affairs of the party without fear or favour.

Malawi is party to the United Nations Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women (CEDAW) and the African Union (AU) Protocol on the Rights of Women in Africa which together with the Southern African (SADC) Gender Protocol (Article 5) make it an obligation for leaders in Malawi to eliminate discrimination against women in leadership and decision making.

“We also call on the women and the gender sensitive men of Malawi to publicly condemn all acts aimed at intimidating women leaders especially those in politics and ensure that those responsible for these human rights violations are made to account,” the group said.