By Winnie Mkuziwaduka
On August 16, 2024, the Rural Women’s Assembly (RWA) Malawi joined forces with the Southern Africa Women Assembly to hold a national conversation in solidarity with the SADC People’s Summit. The event aimed to amplify the voices of rural women, urging SADC Heads of State to address the pressing climatic shocks and the associated social and economic challenges facing the region.
The RWA Malawi organized two parallel community meetings in Lilongwe, T/A Kabudula, and Balaka, T/A Kapalamula. These gatherings were pivotal, involving 1,500 women across both locations, with 1,000 women and 500 men and boys attending in Lilongwe, and 500 women alongside 300 men and boys in Balaka. The discussions in Balaka were led by the RWA chairlady, Ms. Emily Phazi, while the Lilongwe meeting featured contributions from Mr. Clement Makuwa, a representative of the National Youth Network on Climate.
Mr. Makuwa highlighted the severe impacts of climate change on rural communities, emphasizing the necessity for collective action. “Rural women and farming communities must unite and engage in various climate actions. Together, we can mitigate the impacts of these climatic shocks,” he stated.
The discussions in Lilongwe yielded four key messages, particularly from the representative of T/A Kabudula’s chief council:
- Targeted Support for Rural Women: The government was urged to better target rural women with farm inputs and relief packages, especially those negatively affected by cyclones and droughts.
- Scaling Up Economic Diversification: There was a call to provide financial capital to women, enabling them to engage in business and diversify their economic activities.
- Climate Financing Alignment: Climate financing should be aligned with the food and seed sovereignty demands of farmers, ensuring that the resources meet the actual needs of those on the ground.
- Continuous Engagement: The need for ongoing engagement with the Rural Women Assembly was emphasized to ensure that these issues remain a priority.
In addition, the gathering stressed the importance of understanding the roles of their country within the SADC framework. Participants highlighted the necessity for citizens to be informed about how SADC operates, the schedules of sectors they are interested in, and the financial dynamics at play within regional organizations and movements. They also called for accountability in decision-making processes at the national level and urged for protests when formal processes fail to deliver on their promises. In his closing remarks, the representative of the chief council reiterated the significance of these conversations, stating, “We must continue to engage with the Rural Women Assembly to ensure our voices are heard and our needs are met. The future of our communities depends on our collective action and persistence.” This national conversation serves as a testament to the growing solidarity among rural women in Malawi and across the SADC region, as they stand united in the fight against the challenges posed by climate change and other socio-economic issues.
