Mutharika proposes one constituency exclusive for women MPs

President Peter Mutharika has disclosed to world leaders that his government is to propose that Parliament approves that during the forthcoming 2019 elections there should be one constituency per district to be contested only by women.

Delivering his key note address at the European Development Days (EDD) 2017 taking place in Brussels, Belgium, Mutharika said the move aims at empowering women and for Malawi to achieve gender equality.

“For the first time in the history of Malawi, in our 2019 elections we will have at least one constituency in each of the 28 districts dedicated to the election of women only Members of Parliament,” Mutharika said.

Mutharika added that his government has taken proactive measures to include women in strategic decision-making positions—he cited positions such as Clerk of Parliament, Solicitor General and Chairperson of the Malawi Electoral Commission who he said are held by women.

Concurring with Mutharika, IMF Managing director, Christine Lagarde said her organization will keep focusing on economic projects that empower women.

“IMF will support countries whose budgets deliberately mainstream gender into their focus areas,” Lagarde said.

According to Lagarde, this is the only way to empower women.

Mutharika arrived in Brussels on Tuesday  to attend the high level European Development  Days ( EDD) 2017 aimed at how enhancing cooperation among countries so as to successfully implement  the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).