By Sheminah Nkhoma
First Lady Professor Gertrude Mutharika has called on women across the country to embrace unity and pursue shared goals, saying collective effort is key to transforming families and communities.
Speaking on Saturday during the Zokonda Amayi Macheza ceremony at Bingu International Convention Centre in Lilongwe, Mutharika emphasised that women achieve greater impact when they stand together whether in church, business, or community initiatives.
“As women let us not undermine one another, but we should work together to build a better society,” she said.
The First Lady also commended Zokonda Amayi groups for their charitable work, highlighting that unity and tolerance are key to achieving lasting prosperity.
She advised women to take care of their families and their health, saying healthy women are able to work well.In her remarks, Minister of Gender, Children, Disability and Social Welfare, Mary Navicha, called on women to uphold unity and self-reliance, stressing that women are equally capable as men in driving leadership and national development.
She said women are often the first to understand the challenges their fellow women face, making unity essential.
“Through the program, many women have transformed their lives and communities, thereby contributing to the country’s social economic development,” said Navicha.
The Minister also thanked the women in the country for supporting government policies aimed at promoting empowerment and economic independence.
In his address, Secretary for Information and Communications Technology, Harold Msusa, urged Malawi Broadcasting Corporation (MBC) to continue promoting national progress through its programs.
Msusa urged MBC to introduce more programmes that both entertain and educate the nation.
Chairperson of Zokonda Amayi Macheza, Mervis Senga, said the groups under this programme have greatly impacted the lives of women across the country.“Since we started these groups, many women have achieved so much through the ideas, advice, and unity shared among them,” said Senga.
During the event, the First Lady also presented gifts to Zokonda Amayi Macheza
longest serving members and best performing women group.
Zokonda Amayi Macheza is an annual event that brings together women from diverse backgrounds who have built relationships through the MBC Zokonda Amayi radio programme.
The event was held under the theme, “Uniting Women With One Goal”.
