Grace Kwelepeta | |
---|---|
Nationality | Malawian |
Occupation(s) | teacher and politician |
Known for | Member of the National Assembly of Malawi |
Political party | Democratic Progressive Party |
Grace Kwelepeta (born ) became the Malawian member of National Assembly of Malawi for Zomba Malosa in 2019. [1] She was a teacher and she takes an interest in education and in particular the education of girls.
Kwelepeta studied linguistics and humanities and she trained as a teacher. [2] She taught in a secondary school [2] before she entered full-time politics. She joined the Democratic Progressive Party [1] and she became the representative member of parliament for the Zomba Malosa Constituency in 2019. This was a seat previously held by Joyce Banda (who became the President of Malawi). [3]
At the National Assembly Kwelepeta was an executive member of the National Governing Council and a Deputy Minister for Gender. [2] She took an interest in transport,infrastructure and women's rights in the National Assembly. [4]
Kwelepeta takes a continuing interest in education. She encourages students to study and she offers prizes to high performing students and teachers in her constituency. [5] She was invited to attend a girl's retreat for girls by Ulanda Mtamba who was the country director of Advancing Girls Education in Africa (AGE Africa). [6] The annual retreat is held in Zomba for 100 girls from a number of different schools. Kwelepeta and Ulanda Mtamba encouraged the girls to not just look for a job but to become entrepreneurs and create jobs. They were advised to prioritise study over romance. Kwelepeta was hailed as an inspiration by the girls. [7]
In January 2024, she spent a night outside blocking the way of a lorry load of maize in Zomba. The maize was intended for the poor and she wanted to ensure that her constituency was given a good share. [8]
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