MALAWIAN women have been urged to take part in parliamentary politics by the first deputy speaker of the national assembly. Lilian Kapanda called for more female representation in the legislature in order to have a strong say on national issues. Kapanda says only nine women are members of parliament, while women make up 52% of Malawi’s 12-million people. Kapanda was briefing women in Mzuzu, 367km north of the capital, Lilongwe, on the role of female legislators. Malawi’s legislature has 177 members and two female cabinet ministers.