Northern region women’s financial empowerment group courts Minister Youths, Mkandawire

Hon Uchizi Mkandawire – Minister of Sports 

One of the leading women’s financial empowerment group in the northern region, Tovwilane Women’s Group (ToWoG) on Wednesday, courted the Minister of Youths and Sports, Uchizi Mkandawire to explain the problems they are facing.

The grouping which is from the area of group village headman Mwaungulu under senior chief Wasambo in Karonga south constituency said they decided to summon Minister Uchizi Mkandawire because he is also their Member of Parliament (MP).

Apart from that, the group said their business is there to support the future of their children who are under the Minister of Youths hence their decision to summon honourable Uchizi Mkandawire.

Speaking during the meeting, chairlady of the group, Nyahalawa said there are some issues that affect women’s businesses in the constituency as well as Karonga district and the whole region to generate income and adequately meet their families’ multiple needs for food, clothes and education.

For instance, Nyahalawa said her group which is well known in doing pig farming is almost dead because of the disease which killed animals in their area last year.

Despite government announced the end of the disease, Nyahalawa said they’re failing to resume to their business because they don’t have capital.

“We were relying on this business especially when it comes to paying school fees to our children, buying food and clothes even manure for our crops. As it is, we are back to zero and our children are in trouble. That’s why we invited you to help us with solution,” she said.

During the meeting, it was transpired that the constituency has number of such groups for women who are passing through similar problems.

“It’s not that each and every group is doing pig farming. Each group has its own business like goats, chickens, eggs in just mentioning a few but they also have some issues,” added Nyahalawa.

In his short response, MP Mkandawire while thanking the group for the invitation assured them that Malawi Congress Party (MCP) government will help them.

“Our President, Dr Lazarus Chakwera always fight for the financial independence for women. That’s why there are number of women’s financial activities under his leadership. And believe me, such problems will be a history soon,” he explained.

Mkandawire who donated some cash as a start-park to the group said it is sad to learn that their existing small businesses are going down.

Northern region renowned social commentator, Jackson Msiska commended MP Mkandawire for a quick attention.

Msiska said both Minister of Youths and Gender have a job to save the complaints lodged by the group.