By Chimwemwe Mikwala.
Since April 2024, chiefs’ wives in Phalombe district have been proving that women’s engagement is one of the most effective ways to drive community development and tackle pressing challenges. Through the YONECO Chiefs’ Wives Forum with support from UN Women, women from villages in and around Traditional Authority (T/A) Nkhumba have stepped into leadership roles, addressing issues that affect families and children at the grassroots level.
The forum, made up of 10 dedicated members, has already resolved 19 cases ranging from child marriages and land disputes to family wrangles, child delinquency, and child abuse. By mediating conflicts and raising awareness on gender-based violence, the women are reshaping community norms and protecting vulnerable children.
One of the members, Ethel Boyce, wife to Group Village Head Kasiha, shared how the initiative has transformed her outlook. She explained that the lessons she gained from the project gave her and her fellow members a sense of drive and purpose they never imagined they could have. For Ethel, the forum is not just about solving problems, it is about empowering women to lead, inspire, and safeguard the future of their communities.
In one case, a 15-year-old primary school girl was forced by her mother to live as a wife to a 16-year-old Form Four boy after becoming pregnant. When the matter reached Boyce, she drew on the negotiation skills she had learned under the UN Women project. Through careful dialogue, she persuaded the families to annul the child marriage, ensuring the girl returned to her parents. After giving birth, the girl was able to resume her education.
Beaming with pride, Boyce says she is glad she is no longer taking a passive role, waiting for her husband to handle cases. She notes that some of the issues brought to the chief’s yard are highly sensitive, and female survivors often feel more comfortable confiding in fellow women. “That is where I come in,” she explains, underscoring the vital role women leaders play in creating safe spaces for survivors and driving meaningful change.
Another member, Ethel Namandwa, wife to Group Village Head Mpoya, is also a peculiar figure driving change in her area. She says she now understands her role as a woman and has built confidence in her capabilities. Namandwa recalls how she successfully intervened in a labor dispute, where a landowner had failed to pay workers who had cultivated his land. Using the skills she acquired through the project, she mediated the conflict and ensured the complainants were paid their dues without the matter escalating to the chief’s court. Her action not only restored peace but also demonstrated the power of women leaders in resolving community disputes fairly and effectively.
Together, these women are redefining leadership in Phalombe. By stepping into roles traditionally reserved for men, they are proving that women’s voices are not only necessary but transformative in building stronger, more just communities.
On her part, Traditional Authority Nkhumba is full of praise for the forum, noting that it has eased the workload for chiefs. “Now we are not overwhelmed with cases, as these women have stepped up,” she reveals. Nkhumba adds that some wards are not comfortable approaching chiefs directly, and the wives provide a trusted bridge for those in need of intervention. Their presence has not only lightened the chiefs’ responsibilities but also created safer, more accessible pathways for community members to seek justice. She has since called on the UN Women project to expand its reach to all 105 villages in her area, saying the results would be “magnificent.”
Echoing this sentiment, Moses Kathumba, Chairperson for the Phalombe Area District Committee (ADC), highlights how the forum has helped minimize issues, particularly marital conflicts and abuse. “These women have been prudent in awareness raising as well as being available to listen to all people that have brought their issues,” he says. Kathumba adds that his committee, together with the Traditional Authority, enjoys a strong working relationship with the forum members a collaboration that has directly contributed to the reduction of cases across the district.
On his part, Assistant Gender Officer for Phalombe, Laison Pagone, affirms that the positive difference brought by the forum cannot be denied. “Previously, my office was overwhelmed with GBV cases, but now, the load is lighter as cases are dealt with at the community level without getting to our office,” he reveals. Pagone further notes that cases of children dropping out of school have significantly decreased, thanks to the forum’s interventions.
However, challenges remain. According to Boyce and Namandwa, a sector of society still looks down upon the women, questioning their qualifications. “Since we do not necessarily have formal education qualifications, some people discredit and discourage us, but we are not fazed,” Namandwa says, adding that she finds motivation in the tangible results that follow their interventions. Their resilience in the face of doubt underscores the strength of grassroots leadership and the transformative power of women’s voices in community development.
The story of the Chiefs’ Wives Forum in Phalombe is one of courage, resilience, and transformation. From mediating child marriages and labor disputes to easing the burden on chiefs and district offices, these women have shown that leadership does not always require formal titles or qualifications, it requires commitment, empathy, and the will to act.
Despite facing skepticism from some community members, the women remain steadfast, motivated by the tangible results of their interventions. Their collective vision is clear: to build peaceful communities free of abuse, where young people can thrive and achieve their dreams.
As calls grow for the UN Women project to expand its reach to all villages in the district, the Chiefs’ Wives Forum stands as a shining example of how empowering women at the grassroots can spark lasting change; one case, one family, and one community at a time.
