Source: All Africa
Lilongwe, February 4, 2015: President Prof. Peter Mutharika says there is need to review some of the country's laws regarding women empowerment if Malawi is to have more women in decision making.

Mutharika made the remarks Tuesday in Lilongwe when he addressed members of the press on deliberations he had at the 24th Session of the African Union Summit he recently attended in Addis Ababa Ethiopia.

President Mutharika underscored the importance of including women in decision making process and development initiatives in the context of AU agenda 2063 saying his government is committed to ensuring that women empowerment is strengthened by among others reviewing the country's laws.

"We have gone down for example in parliamentary representation, if you remember during the campaign I was saying that I wanted 50 percent of women in parliament but for some reason we went down to where we are now which is 32 percent, but we need to work hard.

"In Uganda there are constituencies whereby only women can compete in primary elections that means they are assured that a woman member of parliament will win but we need to look at various ways as we review the constitution which am sure will be looking at it shortly," said Mutharika.

At the summit Heads of State and Government adopted the Agenda 2063 Framework document and request its popular version.

The agenda 2063 is a continental vision that charts Africa's growth trajectory for the next 50 years, taking into account lessons learnt over the past 50 years and calls for action to all segments of the African society to work together to build a common future and destiny.

The assembly agreed to popularize the agenda 2063 and requested Member States and Regional Economic Communities to accelerate its domestication and integration into their respective development nitiatives and Plans.

Hon. Min. of Information listening to HE's response at the press briefing at Kamuzu Palace in Lilongwe-Abel Ikiloni

The president said other issues discussed during the summit were on peace and security in the region, human rights, employment, Ebola crisis, alternative sources of funding and transport among others.

This years' summit held under the theme of "Year of Women Empowerment and Development towards Africa's Agenda 2063" and is expected to be elaborated during the June/July 2015 Summit.

At the Assembly, the Heads of State and Government elected its new Bureau for 2015 comprising Zimbabwe (Chair), Democratic Republic of Congo (1st Vice Chair), Niger (2nd Vice Chair), Kenya (3rd Vice Chair) and Ethiopia (Rapporteur).

President Robert Mugabe of Zimbabwe took over the chairmanship from Mauritania.

• Malawi