Some Malawi members of Parliament says there is more to learn from Norway on ways of managing population growth, education and women empowerment.
Three MP’s, Honorable Madalitso Kazombo, from Parliamentary Health Committee, Honourable Elias Chakwera, chairperson for the Parliamentary Committee on Education and Honorable Naomi Kilekwa from Parliamentary Committee of Women Caucus were speaking upon arrival from Oslo, Norway where they went to learn how the country is registering positive gains in these three areas.
Speaking on Saturday at Kamuzu International Airport, the parliamentarians said they have learnt that Malawi economy can register remarkable growth just like of Norway by putting more investments in areas of family planning services in order to reduce the country’s fast-growing population to manageable levels and by adding more investments in women empowerment and in education sector by among others constructing more girls hostels in community day secondary schools.
Commenting on the need for Malawi to manage its fast-growing population, Honorable Kazombo said the Norway family planning programmes are a good example and worthy emulating.
“You know, in 1975, Norway population was more close to Malawi. That time Norway population was 4 million while Malawi was 5 million.” He recalled, “But this year when we went there, we found that their population is 5 million and Malawi is at 17 million.”
“So, we went to find out what has been their sole reason. And we found out that they have invested a lot in family planning, gender equity, women empowerment and education.” He said adding “If we follow this model, I am rest assured that we will achieve what Norway has done.”
Honorable Kazombo then emphasised on proper implementation of the Demographic Dividend Framework launched recently, saying this would assist Malawi achieve what Norway has done.
He also noted that current rapid growth of Malawi population is exerting more pressure on the limited resources in sectors like education and health and that the large chunk of the population depends on the very few people who are working.
On his part, Honorable Elias Chakwera said the visit to Norway was very significant as it has enabled them to learn important steps that were taken by Norway some years ago when it faced similar challenges experiencing Malawi today.
“Unique thing that Malawi should emulate from Norway is to put education first.” Said Chakwera,
He continued to say that education must be priority and that it must be prioritised in the national budgetary allocation.
“If all our investments were put in education first we should have been moving forward because an educated society is going to drive development, policies and all kinds of communities that we are going to have. What I have learnt is that Norway puts education first and investment in education is a way to go.”
Speaking on women empowerment, Honourable Naomi Kilekwa said women empowerment is vital because at the moment Malawi women are facing number of challenges that are hindering them from participating in economic activities. She said Malawi women spend most of time at home doing domestic chores than on economic activities and education.
She further noted that girls are facing various forms of harassment daily at home and during their daily long walk to school. She proposed for the construction of more girls hostels in community day secondary schools and that both primary and community day secondary schools must be closer to communities.
But, the three MPs have underlined that for the country to move forward, all Malawians must unite, forget their political differences and start to work together on issues of national importance especially on policy formulations.
The three MPs went to Norway through support from Family Planning Association of Malawi (FPAM).
According to Lonnie Ncozana, Director of Programmes at FPAM, the organisation wanted these policy makers who are their target in most of their advocacy, to appreciate advancements and what Norway is doing as well as to appreciate the role of civil society and how they work in collaboration with Government on issues of education, health and gender.
She said the work of MPs from these three selected committees is more related to FPAM ideologies and therefore their visit to Norway could help them understand the work of FPAM here in Malawi as well see for themselves how similar ideologies are working in developed countries like Norway.
“We expect that having had that exposure and experience in Norway, as they contribute in the House, they will have background that will enable them make informed decisions and bring out issues for girl child, issues for pro-education and issues for pro-health.” Said Ncozana
During their visit to Norway, the three MP’s met members of Parliament of Norway.
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