Blantyre — Gender Electoral Support Network (GESN) Executive Director Reen Kachere said the 2004 elections could be an opportunity to fulfil the 30 % women's involvement in political participation and decision making structures as espoused by SADC. Kachere said this recently during a mobilisation meeting in Mwanza. She said political parties should strategise on what they have to include in their policies in order to increase women's participation.

She stated that parties should submit the names of women participating in constituencies to GESN in order to receive support. "This will help us teach the women about things like public speaking and what they are supposed to do while in parliament," she said.

She further said that it was encouraging that women were gradually taking the challenge and are competing in the forthcoming elections. "Many women have publicly showed interest in standing for different constituencies in the country," Kachere explained.

Mwanza District Commissioner Representative Joseph Bodere said there should be intensive sensitisation and civic education on the people so as to have a good number of women represented in parliament. "People need to be informed and taught as early as possible,' he said.

Bodere however, said it was sad that many parties in the district have already conducted the primary elections. "It is a bit of a problem because males have already been elected to various positions in preparation for the coming elections," Bodere explained.

Chief Mchoseni said women play a important role in political and economic development and that they have all the qualifications fitting to stand for any position. "It is true that women strengthen political parties from the grassroots level," he explained.

Malawi Congress Party (MCP), Malawi Forum for Democracy (MAFUNDE), Malawi Democratic Union (MDU), Malawi Democratic Party (MDP) are the parties that attended the meeting and all said that they would support women to attain more seats in the forthcoming elections.