Women and girls in Malawi have been urged to take sports seriously if they are to be considered for senior leadership positions in the sector.
The call was made by Fatima Muhammed, Deputy Country Representative for UN Women Malawi, who was the guest of honor at the Women in Sport event that was organized by the Women Leadership Program and Sport for All, at Kamuzu Institute for Sports in Lilongwe as part of activities marking Women’s Month.
Muhammed emphasized the importance of celebrating women in sports, stating that sport is more than just a game as it provide a platform for women to develop leadership, resilience, and break gender barriers.
“Currently, statistics show that only 3% of women in Malawi actively participate in sports. Furthermore, only 30% of Malawian women have engaged in any form of sport at some point in their lives. This highlights two critical challenges: low participation and limited leadership representation. Addressing these gaps requires a collective effort involving the government, civil society organizations, and women’s groups. The root cause lies in societal perceptions that certain sports are not meant for women, and this mindset must be challenged,” she explained.
Speaking at the same event, Malawi National Council of Sports Director of Sport and Recreation Development, Ivy Chinangwa, encouraged more women to get involved in sports.
“March is Women’s Month a time to celebrate the achievements of women and girls globally. While there is a designated day for International Women’s Day, different organizations and countries can choose any day within the month to recognize women’s contributions. At the Malawi National Council of Sports, we selected this day to honor the progress women have made in sports,” Chinangwa said.
Chairperson of the organizing committee, Mgeni Gondwe, expressed satisfaction with the turnout, noting that the event successfully mobilized many women and girls.
“It was an amazing day. Women and girls came out in large numbers, and we achieved our goal. Our mission is to provide opportunities for every athlete willing to join sports. It’s crucial to spread awareness because if people don’t have access to information, they won’t know about these opportunities,” Gondwe stated.
This year’s event was held under the theme: “Celebrating Women’s Achievements, Advancing Equality, and Empowering Women in Sports – #AccelerateAction.” Activities included a big walk from Kamuzu Institute of Sports through several landmarks in Lilongwe, including Lilongwe Bridge, Area 13, ADL House, Capital Hotel Roundabout, BICC, Parliament Roundabout, Reserve Bank of Malawi, National Bank of Malawi, and back to Kamuzu Institute, where the rest of the activities took place.