- Source: Grace Kwelepeta
Grace Kwelepeta (born ) became the Malawian member of National Assembly of Malawi for Zomba Malosa in 2019. She was a teacher and she takes an interest in education and in particular the education of girls.
Life
Kwelepeta studied linguistics and humanities and she trained as a teacher. She taught in a secondary school before she entered full-time politics. She joined the Democratic Progressive Party and she became the representative member of parliament for the Zomba Malosa Constituency in 2019. This was a seat previously held by Joyce Banda. She became the President of Malawi.
At the National Assembly Kwelepeta was an executive member of the National Governing Council and a Deputy Minister for Gender. She took an interest in transport,infrastructure and women's rights in the National Assembly.
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. 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). The annual retreat is held in Zomba for 100 girls from a number of different schools. Kwelepeta and Ulanda Mtamba encouragedthe girls to not just look for a job but to become entrepreneurs to create jobs. They were told to prioritise study over romance. Kwelepeta was hailed as an inspiration by the girls.
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.