MALAWI: WOMEN IN POLITICS


leader, which in some cases greatly disadvantaged Dr Banda. While stereotyping in itself is not inherently


problematic, it is when it manifests in ways that accord simplistic generalizations to all women, and operates in ways that ignore individual women’s characteristics, abilities, unique needs and experiences in ways that disadvantage them. More often than not, the level of stereotyping saw Dr Banda being measured by the simplistic question of “just what did you expect women could do or can do?” Her indecisiveness on issues of national importance such as: the claims by Tanzania over ownership of the northern part of Lake Malawi; her conflicting statements regarding the issue of the misappropriation of money from the public coffers, dubbed as “the cash gate scandal”; and what appeared to be an endorsement of the policies of multilateral and bilateral partners of


Malawi, including the devaluation of the Kwacha, did not help matters. Men in similar circumstances and behaving exactly in the same manner would have more likely gotten away with such actions. However, for Dr Banda, wrongful stereotyping prejudices and patriarchal notions were not in her favour. Her tenure in office brought to light a number of instances that reinforced such stereotypes of women as incompetent decision makers. Thus with this background, the tone for the May 2014 Tripartite Elections was partially set. The world watched with keen interest to see if in the first place, Dr Banda would retain her seat, and secondly, if given her stint in the office of the presidency, she had set the scene for more women to enter the political arena in Malawi at all three levels.


Opposite page: Makoro boats on Chitimba beach, Lake Malawi;


Above: The former President, Dr Joyce Banda;


Left: The atrium inside the Parliament building of Malawi.


The Parliamentarian | 2014: Issue Three | 179


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