By Burnett Munthali
NTCHEU, Malawi — Vice President Jane Mayemu Ansah has challenged Malawian women to turn faith into resilience, education into opportunity and economic empowerment into stronger families, saying women must remain at the heart of the country’s drive for social and economic progress.
Ansah delivered the message on Sunday as Guest of Honour at the Zambezi Evangelical Church (ZEC) Chiole Synod National Women’s Conference 2026 at Manjawira ZEC Ground in Ntcheu. The gathering, organised by the Synod Women’s Guild Department, drew women, pastors and church leaders from across the synod under the theme “Mchipululu Simofela,” inspired by Isaiah 43:19–20 and carrying a message of hope and renewal even in difficult circumstances.
Arriving at the venue at about 10:30 a.m., Ansah received a warm welcome from congregants and church leaders before joining hundreds of women for the closing activities of the conference. She thanked ZEC for the invitation and expressed appreciation for three gifts presented to her, describing her participation as both an honour and an opportunity to share fellowship with fellow women.
“I am happy to be amongst you as you conclude your national women’s conference,” Ansah said, stressing that she had come not only as Vice President but as a fellow woman who understands the responsibilities women shoulder in their homes, churches, communities and the wider nation.
Her message went beyond spiritual encouragement, placing education and economic independence at the centre of women’s advancement. Ansah urged women and girls to pursue education, vocational skills, entrepreneurship and income-generating opportunities capable of improving household livelihoods and reducing dependence.
She said investing in women’s education and economic empowerment produces benefits far beyond the individual woman, strengthening families, improving the welfare of children and contributing to stronger and more productive communities.
For Ansah, the conference theme also carried a powerful message about perseverance. Drawing on the biblical imagery of the wilderness, she urged women not to allow hardship, poverty, disappointment or other obstacles to derail their ambitions.
“When we experience challenges, we must look up to God. When we are in the wilderness, we must never give up,” she said.
The Vice President encouraged women to remain steadfast in their faith while continuing to work hard, pursue personal development and use their talents to create opportunities for themselves and others. She said faith should provide strength in difficult moments while education and hard work should help women build more secure futures.
Ansah also emphasised the importance of strong families, encouraging women to balance their personal ambitions and economic activities with the responsibilities they carry within their households and communities. She said women have enormous potential to influence Malawi’s development through the values they promote, the businesses they build, the children they educate and the leadership they provide.
She commended the Zambezi Evangelical Church for complementing government efforts in agriculture, education, infrastructure development and assistance to vulnerable communities. She said partnerships between government, churches and other faith-based organisations remain important in addressing poverty and expanding opportunities at community level.
The Vice President also used the occasion to make a broader appeal for national unity, echoing President Arthur Peter Mutharika’s message following the Malawi Scorchers’ historic performance at the Women’s Africa Cup of Nations.
“United we stand, divided we fall,” Ansah said, calling on Malawians to put unity at the centre of efforts to build stronger families, communities and a more prosperous country.
Her appeal resonated strongly with the broader message of the conference, where women were encouraged to support one another rather than allow differences to undermine their collective progress.
Beyond the celebrations, however, the conference also brought into focus the practical challenges facing church women as they seek to transform faith into tangible community action.
Mrs. Chimwemwe Chikhadzula, National Secretary for Women from Tsangano ZEC under the leadership of Pastor Kamvakale, said the women’s ministry is already involved in assisting sick people, elderly citizens, orphans and other vulnerable members of society.
The ministry also promotes vocational and livelihood skills, encourages women to establish small businesses and supports initiatives designed to strengthen economic self-reliance. Chikhadzula said such programmes have the potential to transform households, particularly where women have limited access to formal employment.
She said, however, that inadequate resources continue to constrain the ministry’s ability to expand its work. Among the major challenges are limited transportation to reach vulnerable people in distant communities, shortages of materials and essential supplies for outreach programmes, and insufficient start-up capital for women seeking to establish small enterprises, including snack-making and other small-scale ventures.
Chikhadzula appealed for greater support from well-wishers and development partners, saying additional resources could help the ministry reach more vulnerable people, expand skills-development initiatives and enable more women to establish sustainable income-generating activities.
The appeal underscored one of the central messages emerging from the gathering: that women’s empowerment requires not only encouragement but practical opportunities, access to resources and partnerships capable of translating skills and ideas into sustainable livelihoods.
Ansah thanked the organisers and participants for what she described as an inspiring gathering, saying the fellowship and messages shared at the conference had personally touched her.
She told the gathering she would leave the conference “a different person” from the one who arrived, reflecting on the spiritual impact of the event and the experiences shared by the women.
The Ntcheu gathering ultimately blended faith with a wider development message, highlighting the growing contribution of churches and women’s organisations to Malawi’s social transformation. From caring for vulnerable citizens to promoting entrepreneurship and skills development, the conference showcased women not merely as beneficiaries of development but as important drivers of it.
Ansah’s message was equally clear: Malawi’s women should not surrender to the difficulties of the “wilderness.” Armed with faith, education, skills, economic opportunity and unity, they can strengthen their families, transform their communities and play an even greater role in shaping the country’s future.
