Women in Rumphi continue to face major challenges in their pursuit of financial independence due to limited access to productive resources and financial knowledge, it has been revealed.
Speaking to Rumphi FM during an entrepreneurship training held on Wednesday at Bumba Teacher’s Development Centre, Blesco Nyangulu, Project Officer for God Cares Rights Foundation, said young women remain vulnerable because of deep-rooted cultural barriers and lack of economic empowerment.
Young women have been vulnerable for a long period Nyangulu said. Most of these women do not have access to productive resources such as land that they can use to become economically independent.”
The training targeted women peacebuilders and representatives from Area Development Committees (ADCs) across the district, with a focus on equipping them with entrepreneurship and financial literacy skills.Nyangulu cited patriarchal land ownership practices and financial illiteracy as key obstacles holding women back from establishing sustainable businesses.
Charity Nyirenda, a peacebuilder from Ng’onga ADC, also spoke to Rumphi FM, highlighting cultural practices that disadvantage women—especially those who are divorced.”Most of the cases that we handle are those in which some parents become reluctant to provide land to their daughters who have been divorced because of the culture of paying dowry,” Nyirenda said.
The entrepreneurship training is part of the Lwande Lithu project, being implemented with support from the Women Peace Humanitarian Fund and UN Women Malawi, and aims to reach all 18 ADCs in the district.
Organizers say the initiative will empower women to take an active role in both peace building and economic development in their communities which will help women to be financial dependent.