WARM-UP

1. Work in pairs. Discuss.

a. Do you agree or disagree with the statement “culture is not static”?
2. You will read an essay about a woman in policy making. Complete the tasks
below.
a. Choose five words from the box. Explain why you chose those words.
b. Think about what the text is going to say about those words.
c. Talk with a partner and compare your answers.

gender – practise - marry - educate - poverty - culture - chief – Africa – discuss – equal
– queen – woman – create – policy – belief – child – send – lead – change – develop –
tradition - community

READING

3. Read the essay “Women in Policy Making: Chief Theresa Kachindamoto” by

Lisa-Anne Julien quickly and answer.
a. What do the following numbers represent?

18 – 2016 - 46 - 50,7 - 9 - 55 - 2,549 - 2017 - 900,000 - 51,1 - 15

4. Read the essay again and answer the questions. Then, compare with a partner.
b. What is Chief Kachindamoto’s opinion in relation to the statement “culture is not
static”?
c. How much has Chief Kachindamoto’s community has changed?
d. Why does she say that ‘poverty’ is an important issue in her community?
e. What is important when working on policy making?

Women in Policy Making: Chief Theresa Kachindamoto by LISA-ANNE JULIEN

In our second interview focused on leading
'Women in Policy Making' (see part I here), Lisa
Anne-Julien, a freelance development writer
passionate about gender equality, reached out to
Chief Theresa Kachindamoto from Malawi. The
following essay details their discussion
of change is within the realms of cultural practice.
There exists a perception that as gatekeepers of
cultural norms and beliefs, some community and
traditional leaders serve as obstacles to the
policy changes necessary to advance women’s
human rights.

For many working in the area of gender equality Senior Chief, Theresa Kachindamoto, shatters
in Africa, the very last and most stubborn bastion this notion, embodying a common refrain in
development work that “culture is not static”. She
is equally vocal and effective in the policy space,
as she is among communities in the Dedza region
of Malawi, where she presides over a community
of approximately of 900, 000 people. Her
advocacy on the issue of child marriage has
contributed significantly to legislative changes,
including the passing of the Marriage, Divorce
and Family Relations Act, which sets the
minimum age of marriage for boys and girls at 18,
and the 2017 constitutional amendment that
harmonised both laws.
“When Malawi was adopting the
minimum age of marriage at 18, I
was in the forefront, attending
different meetings to force the
government to adopt this Act,”
she says. “I was also sensitizing
my communities, mainly during
ceremonies, to understand the
changes.” During her
chieftainship, Chief Theresa has
annulled 2,549 child marriages, sending all
children back to school.
But before Chief Theresa even began her
campaign to end child marriage, she challenged
decades of cultural norms by simply being an
African woman in a position of traditional
authority. She has used this influence to create a
more gender equitable climate among
traditional communities. “When I was chosen to
be the chief, there were no female chiefs within
my area,” she says. “Since then, I have managed
to convince the royal families to choose women,
hence 55 women small chiefs have been selected
during my term of chieftaincy. I consider my work
on creating this gender balance among chiefs, as
a great achievement. Even some male chiefs are
now looking to me as a model in this respect. All
chiefs play a role in the implementation of the by-
laws that stop any development related to child
marriage.”
"During her chieftainship, Chief Theresa has
annulled 2,549 child marriages, sending all
children back to school."
According to UNICEF, approximately 46% of girls
in Malawi are married before the age
of 18, while 9% marry before the age
of 15. In a country with high rates of
poverty and inequality, where the
national poverty rate increased from
50.7% in 2010 to 51.5% in 2016,
struggling families may view child
marriage as a viable option out of
poverty.
Removing a cultural practice that
many see as having a functional place in society,
will inevitably leave a vacuum that could be
replaced with an equally oppressive practice or
sense of despair. Chief Theresa advocates for the
chasm left by child marriage to be filled with
education.
This, however, has not always been eagerly
embraced.
“Parents bring their sons and daughter to my
headquarters after they have been sent away
from school due to outstanding fees,” she notes.
“They ask me if I’m going to help their son or
daughter financially as I was the major reason for
terminating the marriage which could have
helped them out of poverty.” In response to these
very real concerns, and recognising that poverty
is often a gendered experience with women
bearing the brunt of economic hardship, Chief
Theresa has been working with women to
establish small businesses. She is also involved in
an awareness campaign that demonstrates the
importance of girls’ and boys’ education school,
as well as the health-related dangers of early
marriage, including complications experienced
during childbirth.
Chief Theresa’s work on the economic
empowerment of women has been strongly
influenced by Uganda and some of the initiatives
underway in regards to female entrepreneurship.
“I consider Uganda my model, especially when
looking at the country’s African Queens and
Women Cultural Leaders’ Network which brings
together African Queens, Queen Mothers,
Princesses and Women Cultural Leaders to help
change the lives of women, girls and children in
Africa. This network provides crucial support to
women through entrepreneurship. In my
opinion, the best way to achieve greater gender
equality is to provide financial and civic
education support to women so they can
participate fully. My wish is to see this happening
in more African countries.”
This combination of practical solutions to
poverty, policy advocacy and awareness raising,
all underpinned by a vision of gender equality,
has made Chief Theresa popular among her
constituents. “I have a good community,” she
says. “We sit down and discuss all beliefs that may
destroy our beautiful society and those that may
build our future nation. We agree to completely
abolish bad cultures and promote good cultures
and we agree to put by-laws into place that must
be followed and signed by all stakeholders. No-
one, not even the chief, will force an under-aged
girl or boy into marriage.” Chief Theresa
continues to work across sectors, meeting with
small chiefs, NGOs and faith leaders to discuss
gender issues.
Policy change as a process is by no means easy.
Implementation of policy is even more
challenging. Chief Theresa knows that trying to
working on policy change in most environments
takes grit, much more so in those stubborn
cultural hotspots where human rights and cultural
beliefs often clash. Her advice to women entering
the policy space is simple: stay strong and stick to
your truth. “Changing people’s mind and views is
not easy, you need to be strong whether you’re a
man or a woman,” she says. “Young women who
are considering entering the policy space should
not expect quick or easy results. They must stick
to the truth and think about the benefit to future
generations. I always say God created us in the
same image, hence opportunities and
responsibilities should be the same.”
5. Are the sentences true or false? Justify your decision.
a. Influential people are not allowing changes which will help advancing women’s
human rights.
b. Some changes have been made in Malawi in relation to Marriage.
c. Chief Kachindamoto has only worked with the government.
d. During Chief Theresa’s term of chieftaincy, less women have become involved in
leadership positions.
e. Many families see child marriage seen as the only way to get out of poverty.
f. Schools in Malawi are cheap for families.
g. Supporting women who want to become entrepreneurs is one way to achieve
gender equality.
h. Chief Kachindamoto has made decisions all by herself.
i. Changing policies in places where cultural beliefs oppose human rights is
challenging.