Pac vows to lift gender equality
The Public Appointments Committee (Pac) of Parliament has vowed that it will make sure appointments by the President which it scrutinises and those that it directly conducts adhere to the provisions of the Gender Equality Act.
Section 11 of the act directs that representation of either sex in the public service should not be less than 40 percent and not more than 60 percent.
In line with the provision, the CCAP Nkhoma Synod’s Church and Society Programme yesterday organised a meeting to lobby Pac and other stakeholders on the implementation of the section in the public service.
According to Pac chairperson, Lingson Belekanyama, the Gender Equality Act will be one of the key instruments when his committee scrutinises or makes public service appointments.
“Of course, when we do our own recruitments where we advertise and then conduct interviews, we try our best to ensure there is gender balance.
“For instance, we conducted interviews for directors of Assets Declarations Office and Legal Aid Bureau, the Clerk of Parliament and the Ombudsman and the [latter] two positions were filled by women,” Belekanyama said.
Nkhoma Synod Church and Society Advocacy Officer, Phoebe Chifungo, said the percentage of women in both the public and private sectors is very small.
“In Malawi, the majority are women but when it comes to decision making, these women are down while men take over. We discovered this gap and decided that in relation with the Gender Equality Act, we should have this project where we can discuss with those responsible for recruitments,” Chifungo said.
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