Malawi Pres. Banda heading to Nigeria: To attend Global Power conference

NYASA TIMES
Monday, JUNE 24, 2013

Malawian President Joyce Banda leaves the country on 26th June 2013 for Abuja Nigeria to attend the High Level Global Power Women Network on 27th and 28thJune 2013, State House has announced.

Global Power Network aims to review and identify strategies for accelerating the implementation of the global and regional commitments for women and gender equality and HIV/AIDS in Africa, and adopting the post 2015 priorities.

According to Presidential Press Secretary, Steve Nhlane, the conference will review the continent’s performance in HIV response for women and girls, as well as in women’s health, empowerment and gender equality; it will also review the state of sexual and gender-based violence in Africa, including during the conflict and post-conflict situations and assess the effectiveness of multi-sectoral prevention and management efforts to address them.

Among other things the conference will come up with a set of agreed priorities for women and girls, gender equality and HIV/AIDS, for inclusion in a post-2015 sustainable development framework.

“Other outcomes are that the conference will compile strategies, policies and effective and promising practices for accelerating the implementation of global and regional commitments for women and girls, gender equality and HIV/AIDS in Africa,” Nhlane said in a statement made available to Nyasa Times.

He said the conference will also document the state of gender based violence in Africa as well as come up with an up to date performance report on HIV response for women and girls as well as women’s health, empowerment and

As co-chair of the UNAIDS and Lancet Commission: From AIDS to Sustainable Health, the Malawi leader she will is expected to pledge her role to push for the continued prioritization o and women and girls’ rights and health in the HIV response, said Nhlane.

As the current SADC champion for AIDS, Tuberculosis and malaria, the President is also expected to advocate for the cause of women in the region.

The Global Power Women Network Africa is a network of African women who are also elected and appointed representatives that are at decision-making tables.

The conference is jointly funded by UNAIDS, African Union, ECOWAS and the host government

Malawi: Banda Sworn In As President

VOA News

Malawi's vice president, Joyce Banda, was sworn in as president Saturday in the capital, Lilongwe, following confirmation that President Bingu wa Mutharika died suddenly on Thursday.

Ms. Banda, who is Malawi's first female president, was expelled from the ruling party in 2010. But she kept the vice presidency and now ascends to the presidency by constitutional mandate. In her inaugural speech Saturday she called for unity, saying “there is no room for revenge.”

She said she had a good meeting with the cabinet earlier in the day and called the discussion a starting point for healing the wounds of the nation. And she thanked all Malawians for respecting a peaceful transition to the presidency.

Though President Mutharika had his fatal heart attack on Thursday, the government delayed official confirmation of the death until Saturday, while rumor and unconfirmed reports circulated. The delay gave rise to concerns that the late president's supporters were maneuvering to install a member of the ruling party as president.

President Banda has announced that the nation will observe 10 days of mourning, during which flags will fly at half-staff and broadcasters are asked to play somber music.

Mr. Mutharika died of a heart attack he suffered at home on Thursday, despite emergency treatment at a hospital in the capital, Lilongwe.

He was elected president of Malawi in 2004 and won a second term in 2009. Once hailed as a leader in improving food security in African countries, he fell out of favor after suppressing anti-government protests in July. Nineteen people died in the violence.

An economist by education, Mr. Mutharika was a World Bank official before working his way up through the ranks of Malawi's government. He formed the Democratic Progressive Party, which now has majority control over parliament.