Africa-Press – Malawi. Voices of praise keep on coming for President Lazarus Chakwera following his appointment of Colleen Zamba as the country’s new Secretary to the President and Cabinet (SPC).
The appointment comes barely a week after Minister of Gender, Children and the Elderly Patricia Kaliati heralded that Malawi has the potential to become a regional leader in fostering efforts towards achieving Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) should inclusion be mainstreamed at all levels in society.
She was speaking at Bingu International Conference Centre (BICC) recently when she officially opened the Gender Equality and Social Inclusion (GESI) forum that was successfully hosted by World Vision Malawi.
The conference saw delegates from over 11 countries, including Bangladesh, Indonesia, United States, Kenya and South Sudan, among others. The delegates descended on Lilongwe to draw lessons from Malawi after the country emerged top within the region for successfully implementing gender interventions in its programmes.
At the workshop, Kaliati is quoted as citing the need for mindset change as key in making strides towards development goals; arguing the country and the world at large can not grow its socio-economic sector with a “rigid mind”.
The Minister said the world was getting more dynamic by each passing day and that mankind was doomed if it refuses to embrace modern methods of influencing positive change in society.
“Of course, we just have to modify the way we think and the way we do things as a people. Key to all this is gender mainstreaming.
“We need serious engagements on this if the country is to achieve gender equality and social inclusion at all levels. This starts today and it starts now. We need concerted efforts,” she said.
Kaliati was seemingly singing from the same hymn book with her boss Chakwera who, upon his return from the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, immediately replaced Zangazanga Chikhosi with Zamba as OPC head.
Zamba becomes only the second female SPC after Hawa Ndilowe who served during former President Joyce Banda’s regime a few years ago. Ironically, she has Janet Banda as her deputy, another woman in the high office.
Zamba’s appointment has since drawn Chakwera some positive light amid spats of criticisms, with gender equality activists praising the President for staying true to his campaign promises.
“This is very exciting news and I personally applaud the leadership for taking this decision of appointing a woman into this position. This is in line with the Gender equality Act that obligates the government to appoint women into decision making positions,” said Emma Kaliya, a veteran in the country’s gender equality fight.
She also made mention of the several women figures to have taken certain high positions in the public sector; arguing such were signs of a country making progress towards the right direction.
“This is the commitment we have been calling for from the government and we feel progress is now being registered. We hope this will continue until the requirements set out in the Act are properly fulfilled,” Kaliya said.
Kaliya, who is the Malawi Human Rights Resource Centre Director, has since called upon those in the civil service to support the newly-appointed Zamba and her office by, among others, avoiding any kinds of push backs on their leadership.
In her remarks, Women Legal Resource Centre (Wolrec) Executive Director Maggie Kathewera Banda called the appointment of Zamba to the position as something the country has been eyeing for ages. She said: “This is a huge gain for the Gender agenda in Malawi; that women should be entrusted with these public positions.”
The news of Zamba’s appointment has also not eluded the watchful eye of the country’s media which has, for a long time, been instrumental in talking truth to power over various socio-economic issues, including on gender and inclusion.
The Association of Women in Media [Malawi] Chairperson Edyth Kambalame said Zamba’s appointment shows that the current leadership has commitment towards advancing gender equality.
Kambalame said: “We have always complained that as a country, Malawi has enabling laws, and women that are capable, qualified and experienced enough to take up leadership roles and deliver as well as men.”
She added: “It is encouraging to see that the laws are being implemented and women are being recognised as equal and valuable players in the public sector and other spheres of the economy. This is what we need as a country to develop.” said Kambalame.
Kambalame, a Bureau Chief for Nation Publications Limited (NPL) in Lilongwe also said the appointment also inspires the youth to see that gender should not be a limitation to achieving one’s goals and contributing to society’s advancement in whatever field one may belong to. Zamba’s ascension to the SPC position means Malawi now has more women in top positions of influence positions than ever before.
They include the Speaker of the National Assembly, Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB), Financial Intelligence Authority (FIA), Deputy SPC, Ombudsman, Malawi Human Rights Commission Executive Director and Chairperson, Clerk of Parliament, Ministry of Finance Budget Director and the Accountant General, among others.
On the academic front, Malawi University of Science and Technology (MUST), Malawi University of Business and Applied Sciences (MUBAS) and the Lilongwe University of Agriculture and Natural Resources (Luanar) all have women for either Vice Chancellor or Deputy Vice Chancellor.
This comes at a time when women constitute 30 percent of the current Cabinet. “Congrats to the women of Malawi; 60:40 ikutheka,” said one voice on Twitter.
“This is no mean achievement in the history of the country. Looking forward to more women appointments!” posts another commentator on twitter. Zamba has since been sworn to the position, with a stern warning from Chakwera against complacency.
The President said: “Smooth delivery of public services is a key factor in attaining sustainable development. It requires a person of great humility, because you are tasked with ensuring that the outcome of all your actions is improved service to Malawians even if it means becoming unpopular with those who are satisfied with delivering poor service to Malawians.”
Chakwera revealed on Friday that Zamba has been charged with an immediate task to reorient the Civil Service aimed at making it more efficient and professional.
Before her appointment to the SPC position, Zamba was heading the Presidential Delivery Unit (PDU), a think-tank Chakwera established to accelerate socio-economic growth in the country.
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