Two women in Malawi have declared their intention to vie for the country’s two top positions – president and vice president. Loveness Gondwe and Beatrice Mwale will vie for the positions of president and vice president respectively in the country’s upcoming elections slated for May 19 2009. The country’s current president; Bingu wa Mutharika has also picked a woman, Joyce Banda to be his running mate during the said elections. If ever there was a good time for such news, it is now, for as the world celebrates the International Women’s Day (IWD) on March 8, these and many other women continue to blaze the trail in advocating for and claiming their social, political and economic space. This edition is packed with stories of women who have dared to believe and battle for their God given space in society. Starting with Clara Zetkin who fronted the idea of a ‘Women’s Day’ in the early 1900s to Honore Ayebare and her team in their victories win that earned Rwanda its first qualifications to the continental basketball championships. Indeed the struggle for women’s emancipation has neither been short nor easy, and though there are various victories to celebrate, there are also many hurdles to overcome. Let the people of Rwanda, both ‘Women and Men unite to end violence against women. Ends
