adminThe Herald, February 9, 2012
WOMEN, Gender and Community Development Minister Dr Olivia Muchena called for policies to ensure that women are equally represented in various councils and organisations.
She said men and women were known to complement each other, hence the importance of having women in various structures.
“As we are all aware that women in Zimbabwe are more than men, it means that women need more,” said Dr Muchena.
Dr Muchena was speaking in an interview after a breakfast meeting she attended as a member of the G20.
G20 is a group formed by women from various organisations that include Women Coalition in Zimbabwe, Parliament of Zimbabwe and Zimbabwe women lawyers.
The meeting was held to discuss various issues affecting women in the country when it comes to leadership positions.
Dr Muchena said they were roles that men were eligible to play and some which required women to take part.
She said men were authoritative, while women were passionate when it comes to developmental issues. “Women are nurturers, so they should work together to promote the development of the country,” said Dr Muchena.
She said if Zimbabwe did not consider women to assume influential leadership positions the country would lag behind and stifle democracy.
LESSONS FOR TODAY
The 2020 International Women’s Day theme was: “I am Generation Equality: Realising Women’s Rights.” This was a wake-up call for state parties and other actors to work towards the 50-50 representation of women and men in politics and decision-making.
2023 is election year. If it were not for the Covid-19 pandemic, various political parties would now be canvassing for support and looking at who will represent them at various levels. This has a major impact on who would make it to key decision making positions.
The net consequence is whether in 2023, we will see the 50-50 gender parity women have wanted implemented in line with regional and international protocols.
This is understandable, considering that in the 2018 harmonised elections, there was a decline in women’s political representation in both Parliament and at local governance level.
Zimbabwe’s 30 percent proportional representation quota for women at the national level also expires in 2023.
In June 2019, the Zimbabwe Gender Commission invited experts from Lesotho, Mauritius, Namibia and South Africa to share knowledge and strategies on how to boost women’s electoral performance in 2023.
Women and Elections: Guide to Promote the Participation of Women in Elections”, is a UN handbook that states that political parties play a major role in the advancement of women’s political participation, and equal representation. Will that be the case in 2023?
Online Reporter