PAN AFRICAN CIVIC EDUCATORS NETWORK (PACENET) Press Statement for immediate release 12th June 2014: CALL ON POLITICAL PARTIES TO NOMINATE AND VOTE FOR A FEMALE SPEAKER

The Pan African Civic Educators Network (PACENET), as one of the implementing
organizations of the 50-50 campaign, acknowledges efforts by political parties that have secured seats in Parliament. We would like to congratulate both women and men who have been elected as Members of Parliament to serve the five year term between 2014 and 2019.


In particular, PACENET would like to thank Malawians who supported the 50-50 campaign by voting for female candidates. Furthermore, PACENET recognizes in a special way, old female MPs who have retained their seats or have made a comeback into Parliament. This only demonstrates the confidence Malawians have in the female MPs.


Despite not achieving the 50-50 target, PACENET is convinced that the 32 female MPs in the current Parliament have the capacity to effectively represent their constituencies and interests of the female section of the Malawi population.


At this critical time when political parties represented in Parliament are in the process of coming up with their nominees for the positions of Speaker, First and Second Deputy Speakers, PACENET would like to make a special appeal to all political leaders to prioritize female MPs for the position of Speaker. We further appeal to all Legislators to support such nomination by voting overwhelmingly because as an organisation we believe this Parliament has an opportunity to write a new chapter in the history of Malawi Parliament by electing a female Speaker for the first time.


Given the possibility of a polarized Parliament, PACENET is convinced that by their nature of a motherly heart, soberness would prevail in the august House when it comes to deliberating matters of national interests. PACENET believes it should be easy to identify capable candidates for the position of Speaker among the female MPs.


LET US SUPPORT WOMEN
Signed

Steve Duwa
Executive Director-PACENET