Malawi’s Vice President, Dr Jane Ansah, has called for fairer political opportunities for women across Africa, stressing the need for inclusive electoral systems that enable women to participate meaningfully in political leadership.
Ansah made the call today while virtually addressing the inaugural High-Level Annual Conference on Gender and Elections in Africa (COGE), taking place in Johannesburg, South Africa.
She said democracy must go beyond allowing women to vote and ensure they have equal opportunities to contest elections, access campaign financing, lead political parties and contribute to decisions shaping their nations.
The Vice President also called for concerted efforts to address barriers facing women in politics, including unfair candidate selection processes, unequal access to campaign resources, political violence, online harassment and gender-based disinformation.
She emphasised that no woman should face intimidation or discrimination when exercising her democratic rights.
Ansah urged African countries to move beyond commitments on paper and implement practical measures that promote inclusive electoral systems and give women a fair opportunity to lead.
She noted that meaningful participation by women in political leadership is essential to strengthening democracy and building a future that reflects the aspirations of all citizens.
About the Author
