African women have scored big at the African Union (AU) summit after seven of them were elected commissioners to head several powerful portfolios including been responsible for the continent political affairs, trade and industry.

Heads of states elected the five of the seven commissioners during the 10-day AU summit that ended yesterday.

This has brought the number of women to seven following earlier appointments of two women into the commission on human and peoples' rights and the committee of experts on the rights of child.

The commissioners based in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia will run the daily affairs of the 53 nations AU for four years.

The five, who sits on the all powerful African Union commission that is headed by the newly appointed former Malian president Alpha Konare and his deputy Patrick Mazimhaka comes from Cameroon, Gambia, Namibia, Tanzania and Tunisia.

Gambian born Julia Dolly Joiner will head the political Affairs portfolio, Cameroonian Elisabeth Tankeu will be in charge of trade and industry while Bience Gawanas from Namibia will take care of social Affairs portofolio.

Human Resources, Science & Technology has been handed to Saida Agrebi from Tunisia and Rural Economy and agriculture Rosebud Kurwijila (Tanzania).

The women are joined by two men comprising Algerian Said Djinnit in charge of Peace & Security and Bernard Zoba responsible for infrastructure & energy taking the number of men on the AU commission to four including the chair and deputy chair.

AU's new chairperson Joaquim Chissano 'welcomed' the appointed women on board yesterday, urging the member state to provide them with the necessary support.

The appointment comes hot on the heels of Graca Machel as the member of the six imminent persons who will lead the African Peer Review Mechanism, that would review the performance of member states and countries in line with the goals of Nepad.

In terms of AU recruitment policy, appointments to AU structures ought to bring an equal number and percent of African women on board.

The move comes as the number of African women in leadership position increases following the creation of the African First Ladies forum last year.

The first ladies, who are married to African heads of states, had a briefing yesterday where they committed themselves to fighting HIV/AIDS and sweeping poverty on the continent, pledging to contributing $5 000 each to a club fund aimed at financing their community and humanitarian projects. - BuaNews.