From Silence to Strength: Lezite’s Journey of Empowerment in Thyolo

In Her Own Words

Lezita Mukhiwa is a 25-year-old Councillor aspirant in the upcoming Malawi local government elections. She is a mentor and member of Bvumbwe Girls Club, supported by Women Peace and Humanitarian Fund through UN Women Malawi partner, Chipembere Chipembere Community Development Organization,  in Thyolo, southern Malawi.
 

“I’ve always cared about young people like me, because no one else seems to. This concern comes from the many challenges we face every day. The politicians have not been addressing the issues we raise. They don’t really listen to young people. They help the elderly, the orphans, but forget about the youth struggling in between. I've seen boys steal to survive and land in prisons. I have watched girls drop out of school when teachers demand sex for grades and teen pregnancies ending futures before they begin. Decisions are made about our future without us. Men and sometimes women stand in the way, shutting us out.

When I was 20 years old, I started dreaming of running for a political leadership role, because someone had to do something. I decided that I couldn’t just watch on the sidelines anymore. Now, at 25, I’ve done what no other woman in my area has dared, I’ve registered as a candidate for councilor in the local government elections. Two men are running against me. Most people laugh at me or try and discourage me, saying I’m too young, and that leadership is for the old. Even some youth doubt me. But the girls from my Bvumbwe Girls Club motivate and uplift me. We meet weekly and we remind each other that we have rights, and we deserve to live a full life.

Last October, we learned how to be peacebuilders, learning how to mediate conflicts instead of being used as pawns during elections. Now, we teach and mentor other girls and women in our communities. We rally girls to stay in school despite the odds and encourage women who’ve endured abuse without knowing it was abuse to report to authorities when they are abused. 

Now, I’m running because I finally realized, no one can stop me but me. Chipembere taught us that freedom means claiming your space. So, I walked into my party’s office and told them that I will stand in the local elections.

By 2030, I want to see youth here relying on themselves financially because of my councillorship.  I want to ensure we have reliable roads, and water taps instead of long treks to dirty streams. I want youth, especially girls to be heard, without being shoved aside.

My family and my fellow girls’ club members believe in me. In times when doubt creeps in, I tell myself that someone must step up. Why not me?’’.