Sub Saharan Africa

A female politician and former member of the House of Representatives, Mrs Juliet Nnenne Obasi-Akano, spoke at at her country home, Abajah in Nwangele Local Government Area, while marking her formal declaration for the Senate race of Orlu Senatorial Zone of Imo State in 2015.

She declared that the decision to offer herself for the Orlu senatorial seat was borne out of her desire to continue to serve and take them out of the woods, stressing that the zone had been marginalized in terms of federal presence.

As Burundi heads towards the 2015 general elections, and despite a quota of 30 percent women’s representation in parliament, women in this southeast African nation feel that they are yet to have a significant say in the management of their country.

Bernardine Sindakira, the chairwoman of Synergy of Partners for the Promotion of Women’s Rights (SPPDF), a Burundian coalition of women’s rights organisations, tells IPS that the country’s very traditional culture still considers women as “homemakers” as women are educated to play this role from young. 

Malawai Congress Party (MCP) member of Parliament for Salima NorthWest constituency, Dr Jessie Kabwila, has been elected as new chairperson for Women Caucus in Parliament.

We invite our users to read the full article published on July 4th 2014.

President Paul Kagame has said that women's 64 per cent representation in Rwanda's Lower House should not be seen as an end in itself with regard to women empowerment in the country.

He was speaking yesterday on the last day of the summer summit of the Women in Parliaments (WIP) Global Forum at the Parliamentary Buildings in Kigali.

The Head of State observed that empowered women in legislature, business and other areas had an important effect on the ambitions and dreams of younger girls.