Bertha Mackenzie Ndebele
{{Short description|Malawian politician}}
{{Infobox person
| name = Bertha Ndebele
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| known_for = Member of the National Assembly
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| occupation = Politician
| party = Democratic Progressive Party
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| nationality = Malawian
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Bertha Mackenzie Ndebele is a Malawian politician elected for Balaka west in southern Malawi in 2019.
Life
Ndebele was first elected for the Balaka west constituency in southern Malawi on May 2019. She was a member of the Democratic Progressive Party{{Cite web |title=Hon.Bertha Ndebele – PWC Malawi |url=https://pwcmalawi.org/hon-bertha-ndebele/ |access-date=2025-02-01 |language=en-US}}{{Cite web |title=Bertha Mackenzie Ndebele |url=https://malawianparliament.com/balaka/bertha-mackenzie-ndebele/ |access-date=2025-02-01 |website=malawianparliament.com}} and one of 19 women elected from her party. There had been a "50:50" campaign before the election to encourage more support for women into the 192-member parliament. At the election there was 45 women members elected.{{Cite web |last=Reporter |first=Nyasa Times |date=2019-05-26 |title=50-50 campaign not achieved: 45 women MPs voted in 193-member august House - Malawi Nyasa Times - News from Malawi about Malawi |url=https://www.nyasatimes.com/50-50-campaign-not-achieved-45-women-mps-voted-in-193-member-august-house/ |access-date=2025-02-01 |website=www.nyasatimes.com |language=en-GB}}
In 2020, Ndebele was elected to be the Chair of the Southern African Development Community (SADC) Standing Committee for Human and Social Development and Special Programmes.{{Cite web |title=Hon. Bertha Mackenzie Ndebele elected as Chair of Chair of the SADC Standing Committee for Human and Social Development and Special Programmes – PWC Malawi |url=https://pwcmalawi.org/hon-bertha-mackenzie-ndebele-elected-as-chair-of-chair-of-the-sadc-standing-committee-for-human-and-social-development-and-special-programmes/ |access-date=2025-02-01 |language=en-US}}{{Cite web |last=Forum |first=SADC Parliamentary |title=Opening Remarks by the Chairperson of the HSDSP Committee Honourable Bertha Ndebele, MP - SADC Parliamentary Forum |url=https://www.sadcpf.org/index.php/en/programmes/human-and-social-development-and-special-programmes/404-opening-remarks-by-the-chairperson-of-the-hsdsp-committee-honourable-bertha-ndebele-mp-opening-remarks-by-the-chairperson-of-the-hsdsp-committee-honourable-bertha-ndebele-mp |access-date=2025-02-01 |website=www.sadcpf.org |language=en-gb}}
Ndebele became a member of the Malawi Parliamentary Women's Caucus and in 2023 she,Roseby Gadama and Olipa Chimangeni met members of the European Parliamentary Forum for Sexual & Reproductive Rights at Kamuzu Central Hospital in Lilongwe where funding and priorities were discussed with the hospital Director Johnthan Ngoma and the Deputy Director, Mable Chinkhata.{{Cite web |date=2023-09-06 |title=Day Four of Study Tour in Malawi {{!}} EPF |url=https://www.epfweb.org/node/1011 |access-date=2025-02-01 |website=www.epfweb.org |language=nl}}
In 2024, parliament discussed sending thousands of people to work in Israel. It was a controversial proposal, because it involved politicians getting involved in business. Joyce Chitsulo who was an MP had led a mission to Israel to oversee the conditions as there were already hundreds of Malawians working there. Chitsulo reported that there were complaints but she believed this was due to high expectations and poor communication. Ndebele noted the high number of unemployed young people in her constituency and she supported the proposal.{{Cite web |date=2024-02-16 |title=Malawi Parliament Allows Labor Export to Israel |url=https://www.voanews.com/a/malawi-parliament-allows-labor-export-to-israel-/7490863.html |access-date=2025-02-01 |website=Voice of America |language=en}}
At the end of 2024 a video was found of Ndebele talking to her constituents where she bluntly admitted that there was a need for her to support President Chakwera. She argued that with support he could achieve progress - even though her constituents had not voted for him. Her attitude of compromise and cooperation was well received by some commentators.{{Cite web |last=247Malawi |date=2024-12-27 |title=Malawians applaud Balaka MP for rising above party politics as she declares loyalty to Chakwera |url=https://www.247malawi.com/malawians-applaud-balaka-mp-for-rising-above-party-politics-as-she-declares-loyalty-to-chakwera/ |access-date=2025-02-01 |website=247MALAWI NEWS |language=en-US}}
References
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Category:Democratic Progressive Party (Malawi) politicians