FEMNET condemns DPP
International women’s rights lobby group condemns the Democratic Progressive Party’s campaign against vice president Joyce Banda.
A pan African women organisation- the African Women’s Development and Communication Network- FEMNET, has condemned the ruling Democratic Progressive Party’s campaign against vice president Joyce Banda on the party’s 2014 candidature.
FEMNET made its stand known in a statement released today.
In the statement, the organization says it would like to express solidarity with women politicians in Malawi where the future of women’s political representation is under serious threat, following the DPP’s campaigns launched against its own member, the Vice President Joyce Banda.
The organisation states that as a Pan African organization that works for the empowerment of women, it considers the developments in the DPP as a threat to democracy in Africa.
It says Malawi, being the chair of the African Union, which clearly indicates the support for equal representation of men and women in democratic electoral processes, should lead by example in its treatment of all women politicians.
The grouping therefore called on President Bingu wa Mutharika, the ministry of foreign affairs and the ministry of Justice to accelerate the process for Malawi to be party to the Africa Charter for Democracy, elections and governance.
It further says for Malawi to remain a shining star in Africa, the leadership must ensure that freedom of expression and association are respected and guaranteed for every person.
It also called on the president to instill discipline in the ruling party and assure protection of rights of all party members to actively engage in the affairs of the party without fear or favour.
Malawi is party to the United Nations convention on the Elimination of all forms of discrimination against Women (CEDAW) and the African Union (AU) protocol on Rights of women in Africa.
There was no immediate comment from the government of Malawi or the DPP on FEMNET’s statements.
