MCP urges African parties to give women real political power

Malawi Congress Party (MCP) Director of International Affairs Patricia Kainga Nangozo has called on African political parties to give women more decision-making powers, arguing that representation alone is not enough.

Kainga Nangozo made the call at the inaugural Democracy Union of Africa (DUA) Women’s Conference 2026 in Windhoek, Namibia, which brought together more than 320 women political leaders from over 25 centre-right parties across Africa.

She contributed to a panel discussion titled “Is Representation Enough? Women, Political Power and the Struggle for Real Influence in Party Leadership,” where the focus was on women’s influence in political party structures.

Kainga Nangozo argued that women should not only occupy leadership positions but also have a meaningful say in decisions that shape their parties.

The conference was held under the theme “Women Working Together for Political Power, Progress and Prosperity.”

It was officially opened by DUA Chairperson Louisa Atta-Agyemang, with former Second Lady of Ghana Samira R. Bawumia attending as the special guest of honour.

The MCP was among the political parties represented at the conference, which brought together women leaders to discuss political power, leadership and women’s participation in decision-making across Africa.