He therefore, while admitting that there are some challenges in the course for Malawi and Africa to promote women’s rights and giving them opportunities, there is also a need to give credit where it is due if social economic development and poverty eradication are to be achieved.

He granted Africanews.com an interview to elaborate more.

Africanews.com: Can you please briefly describe who you are?

Ning’ang’a: I am an academician, politician and philosopher. Currently, I am working as Principal Secretary (PS) here at the Ministry of Gender Child and Community Development. Before coming here I was at Foreign Affairs Ministry at Malawi Government Headquarters, Capital Hill in Lilongwe where I was heading Financial and Administrative matters at that Ministry. My duties at that Ministry before coming here included being part of the government team which was administering resources allocated to African Union (AU) activities when Malawi, through President Professor Bingu wa Mutharika was chairing the AU over a year ago.

Africanews.com: What is the role of your ministry?

Ning’ang’a: The Ministry of Gender, Children and Community Development was designated as machinery to champion the attainment of gender equality through mainstreaming and empowerment of women and improve children’s welfare and protect their rights in Malawi.

Africanews.com: For quite a long time like in most African countries gender equality has been a daily talk in Malawi. How’s Malawi strategizing to promote it?

Ning’ang’a: Malawi Government is responding to these issues very well and some of the programmes are deliberately targeting women. We have for instance, Magomero Institute of Community Services in Chiradzuru in southern Malawi which for some time was idle. We are revamping the Institute where women will be coming from various districts across Malawi to learn a lot of skills including in food production, nutrition and the like to economically empower themselves to boost rural development in the country. The women will also train fellow women after acquiring the skills. For your own information Malawi is one of the countries in southern Africa and Africa at large which is incorporating gender in all its development efforts through the Malawi Growth and Development Strategy (MDGS).

Africanews.com: What are some of the strategies your Ministry is using to put messages on gender issues across Malawi?

Ning’ang’a: We are doing a lot and our strategies include development of gender training materials including the Gender Training Manual, creation of Gender Focal Points that have been trained in gender issues and oriented on their Terms Of References (TORs) to serve as contact points for gender issues between the Ministry and the institutions they work in, including creation of Gender Network with fully fledged secretariat to serve as an umbrella body for Non-Governmental-Organizations (NGOs) working on gender and women’s issues.

Africanews.com: Malawi promised to by 2005 to have at least 30 women in every 100 decision making positions but that has not been reached.

Ning’ang’a: You are right but you should also understand that Rome was not built in a day. We indeed need to do more to empower women because for instance, in Parliament about 22 percent of women make Malawi’s Legislature. But it should also be emphasized that this cannot be left to government alone. We all need to join hands to achieve more progress in these matters. The Civil Society Organizations, journalists, the clergy, the private sector, academicians, researchers, politicians you name them we all have to play our roles in issues to do with promotion of women empowerment and their rights.

Africanews.com: What are Malawi’s achievements in gender equality?

Ning’ang’a: As a country we have made a lot of progress and achievements notable among which include: Development of the National Gender Policy and National Gender Programme, implementing of a programme on increasing women’s participation in politics and decision making which launched a 50-50 Campaign for the 2009 Presidential and Parliamentary Elections. The campaign resulted in an increase from 14 percent to 22 percent of women parliamentarians. The Ministry has currently developed a 50-50 Campaign Strategy for the forth coming Local Government Elections. Further, Malawi Government fully recognizes that gender equality and empowerment of women is globally recognized as a human right and integral issue to achieving MDGs. This is why from the word go after taking the reigns of power from former president Dr. Bakili Muluzi, under State President Professor Bingu wa Mutharika a lot of women are in high ranking decision making positions. These include Jane Ansah as Attorney General, Catherine Tujipane Chizumira as Malawi’s Ombudsman, Rosemary Kanyuka as Director of Public Prosecution, Juliana Mphande, Matilda Katopola as Clerk of Parliament, Dorothy Kamanga as Registrar of High and Supreme Courts, Juliana Mphande as Second Deputy Speaker of Parliament, Anastazia Msosa as Malawi Electoral Commission Chairperson, Vice President Joyce Banda. A lot of women also hold positions in the cabinet, as directors in Ministries, as ambassadors in Malawi’s foreign missions just but mentioning a few. Previously, such positions were mainly occupied by men not women. Let me remind you that Professor Bingu wa Mutharika few years ago received a torch in Oslo, Norway in recognition of his efforts on women empowerment in this country.

Africanews.com: More often government critics have accused the state of bureaucracy. For instance after Parliament has passed some important bills for recommendation to become laws they have just been gathering dust. Would you please explain if there is any progress on any bills meant to benefit women in your Ministry?

Ning’ang’a: First of all government critics are entitled to their own opinions in a democracy. However, it should also be understood that before a Head of State has to approve a bill into a law he has to critically scrutinize it. Meanwhile, responding to your question I am very proud that there are some outstanding progress in legislations related to my Ministry these include enactment of the 2006 Prevention of Domestic Violence Act No.5 aimed at eliminating gender based violence occurring within the domestic arena; and to provide for effective legal remedies and other social services to persons affected by domestic violence. Facilitation of engendering of policies in the general public, private and Non-Governmental-Sectors such as Land Policy, Transport Policy, Reproductive Health Policy, HIV and AIDS Policy and the Re-admission Policy among others have also taken place.

[
b]Africanews.com~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~[/b]: Property grabbing has been on the increase in the country and mainly infringed rights of women and children especially after a husband has died. What is the progress so far on the Wills and Inheritance Bill to tackle this problem?

Ning’ang’a: I am pleased to tell you that a review was done of gender related laws including the Deceased Estates (Wills, Inheritance and Protection) Bill which was sent to Parliament Level: and the Marriage, Divorce and Family relations. Gender Mainstreaming guidelines and their checklist Management of Human Resources including Gender Budgeting Guidelines and also their checklist are also being developed within the Public Sector.

Africanews.com: In October last year the African Decade for Women (2010-2020) was launched in Nairobi, Kenya what is Malawi doing for the benefit of women?

Ning’anga: Quiet a lot because Malawi Government continues to develop and implement various activities and programmes to uplift and promote the welfare and rights of women to make sure that a great difference is achieved in the lives of women after the decade.

Africanews.com: Would you please explain how Malawi Government is doing that?

Ning’ang’a: In this decade, the government is to redouble efforts and strengthen its collaboration with Civil Society Organizations, Private Sector, Development Partners and Regional and International Institutions.

Africanews.com: Last year you were in New York City in the United States of America accompanying the former African Union (AU) Chairperson also Malawi’s President Bingu wa Mutharika what actually transpired there especially on Millenium Development Goals (MDGs) and your Ministry?

Ning’ang’a: I indeed attended the UN General Assembly, my Minister of Gender and Community Development Theresa Gloria Mwale also attended a number of side events. The meeting had panelists from UNDP, African Development Bank and among many other issues tackled how developing countries like Malawi and continents like Africa could mobilize resources through boosting revenue collection to meet the development agendas including MDGs for the benefit of citizens without necessarily depending on Official Development Assistance. In this regard Malawi set aside K50 million [over $300,000] for Social Cash Transfer Programme targeting vulnerable groups include widows and orphans.

Africanews.com: Some government critics say there is too much talk and more and more promises about gender equality and women empowerment in Malawi and Africa yet women continue to be oppressed and men dominating in everything including monopolizing resources for development as well as leadership roles. What do you make of this?

Ning’ang’a: Such critics are entitled to their own opinions. But another truth of the matter is there is too much focus on negatives issues by such critics to the extent that they don’t appreciate any of the positive achievements we are making.

Africanews.com: Prior to Malawi’s 2009 General Elections President Bingu wa Mutharika sow a seed of hope that Malawi was going to have its own ‘Ellen Johnson Sirleaf’ or in simple terms the country was going to have its ever first woman president when he picked Malawi’s current Vice President Joyce Banda as his running mate (then Foreign Affairs Minister).

Ning’ang’a: First as I earlier on said critics are entitled to their opinion because present Malawi is a democratic society. Secondly I can’t comment on DPP issues. But according to the local media the ruling party explained the reasons behind its National Governing Council (NGC) to fire the country’s Vice President Honourable Joyce Banda from the party. Thirdly or lastly let me clarify that her expulsion from the ruling party does not remove her from public office. Honourable Joyce Banda still remains the Vice President of the Republic of Malawi.

Africanews.com: According to the Malawi media a day does not elapse without hearing cases of mainly women and children’s rights being violated including rape, defilement, gender based violence. What is your Ministry doing to eradicate these human rights violations in Malawi?

Ning’ang’a: It is indeed very sad that such cases are still taking place. As a Ministry it is in our interest that every man, woman, boy, girl and child’s rights are protected. To achieve this noble objective we are sensitizing the general public that any form of violence against anyone is a crime and violation of human rights. We are also working with the Malawi Police Service to bring to book all those who break the law and provide counseling in Victim Support Units located in Police Station in the country. We have also recruited Child Protection Officers who have been deployed across Malawi who are working as watchmen for children to make sure that their rights are not violated. Implementation of the 2007 National Response to combat Gender Based Violence is also taking place. We have also developed and implemented the National Strategy to Combat Gender Based Violence which has resulted into establishment of Victim Support Units spearheaded by the Malawi Police Service under the Community Policing Pogrammes since 2002.

Africanews.com: Final words.

Ning’anga’: I am appealing to all Malawians as well as Africans from all cross sections of our societies that we should join hands to uplift women at all levels if we are to achieve social economic development and eradicate poverty at all levels. We have to face the reality that the continent cannot achieve social-economic development and eradicate poverty if women who mostly make majority of our populations on the continent are oppressed and denied opportunities.