By Evance Matola
Association of Women in Media (AWOME) says all is set for 2025 Annual General Meeting (AGM), scheduled to take place at Ubuthu Lodge in Salima from today October 28 to 29, 2025.
AWOME General Secretary, Edith Kaira Gondwe, told Malawi News Agency (Mana) on Friday that the AGM will be held under the theme; Beyond the Ballot: Sustaining Women’s Voices in Governance.
Gondwe disclosed that the meeting will attract about 90 women journalists from across the country.
“Basically, through our AGM we want to encourage our members to continue writing stories about women elected during the September 16th General Elections. Before the elections, we urged the general public to vote for women, so now we want our members to continue amplifying the success stories of women elected into office,” she added.
Gondwe said that participants at the meeting will receive trainings on various topics, including cervical cancer awareness, to equip them with knowledge useful in their newsrooms, adding that talk on pension will be done by representatives from the Reserve Bank of Malawi.
She said there will also be another talk on the use of artificial intelligence in newsrooms, and mentorship and leadership sessions during the meeting.
Gondwe also explained that participants will listen to motivational talks led by Malawi Electoral Commission (MEC) Chairperson, Justice Annabel Mtalimanja, who has been invited as the guest speaker.
“We want our guest speaker to mentor our members on how to sustain women’s voices in governance and also how to take up leadership positions,” she added.
AWOME member who is also Mibawa Television journalist, Bertha Chirwa, said she’s looking forward to attending the AGM, anticipating that the meeting will provide opportunities to interact with seasoned female journalists in the country.
“I believe AWOME is a platform where women uplift and support each other, and I am eager to connect with like-minded professionals. I am particularly looking forward to discussions on issues affecting women in media and how they can be addressed,” Chirwa said.
This year’s AWOME AGM is budgeted at K7 million and it has been made possible through contributions from CK Cold Storage, Lab 20 Innovations, the Reserve Bank of Malawi, MUDI Sacco, and COMSIP
