27“You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall not commit adultery.’ 28But I tell you that anyone who looks at a woman lustfully has already committed adultery with her in his heart.29If your right eye causes you to stumble, gouge it out and throw it away. It is better for you to lose one part of your body than for your whole body to be thrown into hell. 30And if your right hand causes you to stumble, cut it off and throw it away. It is better for you to lose one part of your body than for your whole body to go into hell.— Matthew 5:27-30
My mother and father and their parents before them taught me a lot of interesting words from a variety of languages they were accustomed to. My Mom has the lion’s share: among some of the interesting words were “anla,” “anli,” “ndikupulinga” and many others. I don’t know if these were Chichewa, Yao, or Shona, but in recent discussions on the dress code for women in Malawi, where Gen Z women are being asked not to wear miniskirts to work. The discussion regarding women’s clothing in Malawi, particularly the issue of miniskirts in the workplace, has been reported as having grown. Gen Zs are embracing this trend of wearing miniskirts in the workplace. I have a big ANLI and a “so what?!”
The article published on September 4, 2024, could easily have been taken from a 1970 Malawi news article; it states that: a community leader AK from Kaliyeka 1 in Lilongwe remarked, “The trend of wearing miniskirts and other exposing attire has become rampant.” He expressed concern that exposing the body does not align with Malawian culture.” My eyes went pop in my head. I could not believe that after 60 years of independence and 30 years of democratic rule, there were still among us that have embraced some of that Kamuzu Banda brand of thinking. Many people that are 55 years and older, will recall that in Malawi the dress code for women and men were so severe, many people either landed in prison or fined for contravening the 1973 law on this.
Under the Dress law of 1973, miniskirts and trousers in public were prohibited for women except at holiday resorts or beaches. For men, their hairs were not supposed to be longer to cover the ears. Male visitors for instance, were given mandatory haircuts at airports as a condition to be allowed entry into Malawi. A man seen in public with long hairs that covered the ears could be nabbed by plain clothed police and be given an involuntary haircut. Even bell bottom trousers were outlawed. It was not acceptable for women to drink or smoke.
Then entered the year 1993 and the move to democratic rule, complete with the overwhelming vote multiparty democracy got in the May 1973 Referendum, the dress code changed in December when Immanuel Kondowe told Malawians that the code had changed, women could now wear trousers and miniskirts.
“Congratulations women of Malawi,” Kondowe told a news conference in Blantyre, December 1993. The Dress Law of 1973 was repealed by parliament to allow women to wear trousers and miniskirts in public and for men to grow long hairs like dreadlocks and wear bell bottomed trousers. Former President Dr. H. Kamuzu Banda had appointed Du Chisiza Jr as minister of Youth. Soon after the repeal of the Dress Law by parliament, Du Chisiza Jr held a rally at Kwacha in Blantyre where he announced that men were free to wear locks and women to put on trousers and miniskirts.
How is it, Malawians are turning back the clock, and have us remediate the rights of women to dress as they see fit? And some members of the debate are quoting God: MM, a female entrepreneur in Mulanje, dismissed the idea of agreeing with miniskirts, she affirmed that even God is not happy with women exposing their bodies. And while not helping matters, a fashion designer was quoted as saying he suggests “that certain office outfits look better with shorter styles but acknowledged that the exposure of women’s legs could “fuel men’s sexual desires and increase sexual abuse in offices and different places.”
Before I also quote God, please be aware that God never mentions miniskirts in the bible. All the self-acclaimed pastors can search: God does not mention miniskirts in His holy scriptures. But He does say “If your right eye causes you to stumble, gouge it out and throw it away. It is better for you to lose one part of your body than for your whole body to be thrown into hell.
To the fashion designers and other proponents that are calling for Gen Z or any other woman on what to wear, my firm statement is hands off! To quote a famous US personality, “It’s none of your business!”
I also add to the advocates that are saying it is not our culture and that it will cause men to lust after them and rape them, I say the following:
First and foremost, we have moved on as a country and as members of the global community, we must stop blaming the victim. If rape is on the increase because women are wearing miniskirts, IT IS TIME THAT MEN AND BOYS BE TAUGHT OUR CULTURE OF NOT RAPING WOMEN OR GIRLS. To such people that rape girls or women, remember what Simeon and Levi after Shechem defiled their sister Dinah. Protect the victims of these horrendous thoughts.
After all, no woman thinks of raping a man because he is so good looking and dressed in a great suit!
To all the men that are enticed because some woman has worn a seductive outfit, do what I do when I see a stunning-looking man (trust me, there are all over the place), I LOOK AWAY, and move on to conduct the business I came to the Library or supermarket. Do not sin by raping anyone exercising her right to dress as she likes. Do not blame any victim of rape.
To all the men of Malawi, please look at all women and girls as your sisters or daughters and defend them as Simeon and Levi did. You defile your culture if you rape your sisters or daughters. And this is not only against our culture but also against our laws. The Dress Code changed in 1973, after many long battles in the media and closed door conferences. Leave the law alone. Don’t try to fix it. It ain’t broken!
To all women and girls of Malawi, wear miniskirts, wear trousers to your hearts’ desires; it is your democratic and God-given right to do so!
