The company’s Human Resources Director, Khumbo Mtambo Banda said this is the reason the company is coming up with various activities to motivate and strengthen the capacity of female workers to take managerial posts.

“This solidifies the commitment we started off last year in October in launching 'Women in Leadership Forum' for Illovo, specifically aimed at driving women in leadership positions within our business,” said Mtambo Banda.

She further stressed that the company is focusing on development of business and how to help mentoring women into managerial positions.

The Human Resources Director then encouraged women at ILLOVO to emulate the hard work of some prominent women who have achieved a lot in the corporate world including Bayer Malawi country director, Chikondi Ng’ombe.

“It is very important to follow and learn more on how such women made it in life. It is all about hard work and remaining focused,” the HR Director explained.

She said the company will continue to create an enabling environment for women to thrive thereby making a significant contribution to the growth of the company.

On her part, Ng’ombe said it is encouraging that Malawi is making positive strides although it has not yet achieved the 50:50 female representation in key decision-making positions.

“The company which has some women in leading roles flourishes more than the one which is male dominated, so I ask women to work hard and take up different positions,” said Ng’ombe.

Gender activists in Malawi have been advocating for active female involvement in decision making at the higher level including being appointed into the Cabinet and elected as Members of Parliament.