Former deputy Reserve Bank of Malawi Governor, Naomi Ngwira, has accused faith leaders of being complicit to gender-based violence through sermons that tend to cast women in the light of second-class citizens in society.
Ngwira said it is wrong for the church to hold on to opinions of gender equality based on culture and traditions which perpetuate inequalities between men and women.
She made the remarks in Lilongwe on Thursday night at a presentation made at the ‘Gender Equality And The Church’ symposium.
The symposium was organised with technical and financial support from the Swedish Institute.
Ngwira said it is surprising that faith leaders continue to pay a blind eye to achievements of rich and noble women who took care of Jesus Christ and apostles at crucial points in their lives.
“Preachers choose not to use their stories in sermons. Elizabeth took care of Mary during her pregnancy, Mary gave birth to and raised Jesus. Various women took care of Jesus at death, burial and were also there to witness his resurrection. There were no male disciples there. [Prophet] Muhammed was Khadija’s business manager before marriage and she influenced and nurtured a man to become a prophet to billions,” Ngwira said.
Ngwira said there is need to dispel negative views of masculinity and wrong interpretation of scriptures.
“We want equality and equity in the following areas, inter alia, political power, influential positions, jobs, education, access to financial products and product markets and information, equity in access to social services,” she said.
United Nations Entity for Gender Equality and the Empowerment of Women human rights specialist, Habiba Osman, said her organisation is optimistic that, soon, Malawian women will be actively participating in social, spiritual and economic activities in spite of socio-cultural challenges.
Ministry of Justice and Constitutional Affairs Chief State Advocate, Pacharo Kayira, said the faith community’s voice is key in the promotion of gender equality.
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