Malawi remains among countries with low representation of women in Parliament in the Southern African Development Community (Sadc) region, according to the Sadc Gender Unit.
Statistics from the unit show that Malawi, with 17 percent representation, lies on ninth position on the 2014 Status of Women in Parliament Index.
This is despite Malawi, just like 13 other Sadc member States apart from Botswana and Seychelles, ratifying the bloc’s Gender Protocol which seeks to reach gender parity in decision-making positions at all levels.
Namibia is on first position with 47 percent of women in Parliament followed by Seychelles with 44 percent, South Africa 42 percent, Mozambique on the fourth with 39.2 percent while Angola and Tanzania are on position five and six with 36.8 and 36 percent respectively.
DRC, Zambia and Botswana are in the bottom three in that order.
Speaking to the journalists ahead of the 35th Sadc Heads of State and Government Ordinary Summit at the Gaborone International Conference Centre, acting head of Sadc Gender Unit, Elizabeth Kakakuru hailed countries that have made progress in incorporating women in all decision-making positions apart from Parliament.
Meanwhile, as some of the targets of the Sadc Gender Protocol, especially those aligned to the Millennium Development Goals expire this year and will be going under review soon, the convention remains in full force as the other targets were aligned with the Sustainable Development Goals and expire in 2020 or 2030.
