The Parliamentary Women’s Caucus has bemoaned the continued sidelining of female lawmakers in various leadership positions of the House.

The concern was raised after second Deputy Speaker of the House, Madalitso Kazombo, announced an ad hoc Committee which has a smaller number of female parliamentarians.

According to the Chairperson of the Women’s Caucus, Lonnie Chijere Phiri, it is unfortunate that the August House which is supposed to be exemplary is on the forefront doing the contrary.

Chijere Phiri said: “I have found that there are only two women in that Committee that’s why I rose on a point of order to protest as to why the leadership of parliament has decided to do that.

“As Members of Parliament we go out there and make laws saying there should be 50:50 representation in every sphere where matters to do with national unity are concerned.”

Meanwhile, the opposition Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) has reconsidered its decision and has since submitted names of female candidates to reconstitute the Committee.

However, Leader of the House, Richard Chimwendo Banda, has told the House that government will not make changes saying they already have a good number of women represented in various leadership positions.

Currently, out of 193 legislators in the house, 44 are women.