Malawi Elects First Woman Speaker

Malawi has elected its first woman speaker in parliament, Hon Catherine Gotani Hara.

Gotani Hara is a representative of the main opposition party the Malawi Congress Party (MCP). She was elected in a close contest in which she was up against former first deputy speaker Hon Esther Mcheka Chilenje, who was nominated by the ruling Democratic People’s Party (DPP). Gotani Hara secured 97 votes against the 93 for Mcheka Chilenje.

MPs were sworn into office earlier this week following elections held last month. The opposition MCP is contesting the official results of the polls in the courts.

Gotani Hara has formerly served as minister of health, and minister of natural resources and environmental affairs, as well as deputy minister of gender and transport. She holds a Bachelor of Social Science Degree (Political Science) from the Chancellor College and a Postgraduate Degree International Development and Project Planning and Management from the University of Brighton (UK).