Leader urges MPs to appoint good women representatives

 GOVERNORS and members of parliament in the highlands region have been urged to listen to women’s councils when selecting women representatives.

Women In Politics president in the highlands region Dere Cecilia said the two women representatives on local level governments, joint district planning and budget priority committee, one representative in the urban authority and provincial assembly had to be recommended by the district and provincial councils of women.

Cecilia said governors, local MPs and council presidents overlooked Section 6 of the Local Level Government Administration Act 1997 which gave power to the district and provincial council of women to nominate their representatives on these decision-making bodies.

“While many local MPs now go around swearing in newly-elected councillors and presidents, I want to ask them to appoint women representatives nominated by the district council of women in consultation with the provincial council of women,” she said.

She said the district and provincial councils of women were part of National Council of Women, the legally recognised mouthpiece of women in the country.

Cecilia said this legislation was never followed by governors and MPs from the Highlands.

She said women leaders in the district and provincial councils were more qualified and knew issues affecting women and children.

“They will contribute meaningfully in the decision-making for the betterment of fellow women and children,” she said.

She appealed to MPs to stop the past practice of hand-picking women’s representatives because of political connections, family ties or through bribery.

Cecilia said these handpicked women would not contribute meaningfully and would not make informed decisions to help other women.