Malawi, a southern Africa nation of 21 million people, will hold elections on September 16. Several presidential candidates have nominated women as their running mates.

Civil organisations in Malawi have been pushing for female representation in political leadership, including the so-called 50-50 Campaign that advocates for 50% female representation in Parliament to bring it more in line with the country's demographics.

Women dominate the 2025 electoral roll, with 57.1% of the registered voters, according to figures from the Malawi Electoral Commission.

Many Malawians are asking whether the decision by several parties to field female running mates marks a genuine shift toward a new era of gender inclusion in Malawi's politics.

Sainala Kalebe, a lecturer specializing in political leadership at the Catholic University of Malawi, told DW's AfricaLink that the women in question are running mates rather than presidential candidates — putting them in a subordinate position.

She........

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