President Arthur Peter Mutharika has spoken out against the recent criticism about the lack of women in his initial round of ministerial and government appointments.
During a swearing-in ceremony for ministers and senior officials at Sanjika Palace in Blantyre on Wednesday afternoon, Mutharika acknowledged the concerns. He noted that he had seen comments specifically calling out the absence of women in the positions he had recently filled.
“People just criticise APM all the time,” the President stated. Despite the criticism, he emphasized his commitment to seeing women succeed. “I am always happy when I see women taking up big positions in different sectors. I would like to see women in all sectors taking leadership positions in the public and private sectors as well as in NGOs.”
Mutharika strongly affirmed that gender equality is a priority for his administration. He promised that women would secure posts across all sectors, ensuring his government would be “diversified and inclusive.” The President stressed that it is vital to empower women so they can fully participate in leading and running the country in various capacities.
The ceremony itself was conducted by Richard Santhe, the Director of Civil Litigation in the Ministry of Justice, ensuring all legal requirements were met.
President Mutharika’s remarks come at a time when many groups and individuals are urging for greater inclusion of women in top roles, highlighting the ongoing national discussion about gender representation in Malawi’s public life.
