Women Members of Parliament have called for more capacity building training initiatives to strengthen their performance in the House.
The call comes following a high-impact training workshop in communication and leadership held on Wednesday in Lilongwe facilitated by the Public Relations Society of Malawi (PRSM) in partnership with the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and UN Women under the Support to Parliament Project.
Speaking at the close of the session, Chairperson of the Women Parliamentary Caucus Mary Maulidi Khembo described the sessions as fruitful and timely. She also called for continued support for female legislators.
“There is need for more of these engagements to help female MPs gain confidence and be able to deliver well in Parliament,” said Khembo.
The workshop reflected on the challenges women MPs face in parliamentary debates, media interviews, and constituency engagement. Participants openly discussed issues such as interruptions during debates, fear of being misquoted by the media, and the difficulty of operating in a largely male-dominated environment.
UN Women Deputy Country Representative Fatma Mahomed said women parliamentarians have critical in shaping national development as such they need to be empowered for them to be effective leaders.
“Leadership requires more than representation, it requires voice, clarity, influence, and courage,” she said.
Mahomed added that the training’s focus recognise that communication is not just a soft skill, but a strategic tool of power.
She reminded the women MPs that as leaders, they carry the responsibility not only to legislate and provide oversight, but also to champion gender equality and ensure institutions remain accountable to women and girls across the country.
PRSM President Rachel Kalera-Mhango said the Society was proud to contribute its expertise to strengthening parliamentary leadership.
She explained that PRSM exists to support government and the private sector in effective communication, adding that strong communication skills among national leaders directly contribute to national development.
Said Kalera-Mhango: “When leaders communicate effectively, institutions become stronger and democracy is sustained. As PRSM, we are strategically positioned to share knowledge and professional expertise from within our membership to help leaders make meaningful impact.”
