Celebrating empowerment

MAKE A DIFFERENCE Sarudzai Mupangi
Walking into the room, one could feel the warmth, love and joy that filled the atmosphere as it was all smiles as winners and losers, friends and opponents shared a unique moment in unison. The elderly women’s faces beamed with joy as they mixed, mingled and danced to Mechanic Manyeruke’s song called “Makorokoto”.

Some of them even forgot about their swollen feet and back pain, which most women in their 40s and 50s usually complain about.

They were getting down on the dance floor, celebrating their exploits during the recently held 2013 harmonised elections. Zimbabwean women in politics had gathered to share their experiences, celebrate their participation in the 2013 elections and strategise on propelling fellow women to victory in future elections.

The women want their political parties to broaden the quota system.
Women from Zanu-PF, MDC-T, MDC and all the other parties that participated in the harmonised gathered on Wednesday, in Harare, to celebrate their exploits that saw them rise against their male counterparts, whether they won or not.

The women also celebrated their efforts in doubling their representation in Parliament from 17 to 34 percent, a milestone that also saw Zimbabwe, now ranked fifth in the Sadc region, for having the most number of women in decision making positions, be it in politics, business and other sectors.

Women in politics acting executive director Ms Prisca Mudondo said focus should now be on efforts to make women come up with programmes that enable them to participate effectively in the next elections.

“That way we will increase the number that participates and win in the elections. Women usually do not have any strategies on how to win an election. The election cycle begins after the end of another election and now is the time to start working on our strategies.”
Zimbabwean women are already gearing up for the 2018 election.

Participants, however, refused to share their experiences during the primary elections saying they carried painful memories which could spoil their day.

They also said they could not do so because members of all political parties were present and would not want to say anything against their leaders.

Outgoing Pubilc Service Minister Lucia Matibenga said it was prudent to talk about the primaries.
“A woman can not stand on such a public forum and share her experience on how her curriculum vitae was removed from the candidates’ file and how she fought to make sure that she contests in the general elections,” Ms Matibenga said.

“There have been clashes with leadership here and there and that can not be said here. If anyone dares to do so, they would be reported by some other people to the party leadership. Women can not risk doing that. Kuchenjedza nyamukuta kuzvara uchada.”

Outgoing Women Affairs, Gender and Community Development Minister Dr Olivia Muchena said women should not be intimidated by their male counterparts in Parliament, who may use “big” English words to intimidate the new female parliamentarians.

She said according to the new Constitution, there were 14 languages that are recognised as official and can be used in Parliament.
“Your effectiveness in Parliament should not be compromised because you can not speak good English, instead, use one of the 14 languages that are recognised as official in the new Constitution,” Cde Muchena said.

“As women, you represent even the men in your constituencies and you always need to present yourself in the right manner so that people take you serious. You need to be ready to learn at all times and ask others how things are done.”

The women were also urged to join as many parliamentary portfolio committees as possible and be open -minded while they are prepared to take up any challenges. Zanu-PF National Assembly member for Hurungwe East Sarah Mahoka, however, expressed disappointment at how organisations that support women in politics have not assisted in previous polls.

“It is an open secret that women fail to make it into politics because they lack resources and Wipsu has not made things any easier for us in the past elections. That should change,” said Cde Mahoka.

Zanu-PF politburo member Cde Abigail Damasane expressed displeasure at how fellow parliamentarians discriminated against women who had made it into Parliament through the proportional representation quota, where 60 women automatically became MPs without having to contest in any election.

She called for drastic action to deal with stigma against women who made it through the proportional representation.
“The stigma that exists now can be likened to that which existed when people knew little about HIV and Aids. At the inauguration, certain parliamentarians were been passing negative comments against proportional representation women and this should be dealt with as soon as possible.

Outgoing Matabeleland North provincial Governor and Resident Minister Thokozile Mathuthu said no women were favoured into Parliament but they were all hard working and deserved to be legislators.

Netsai Mushonga of the Women’s Coalition said according to the agreements that were made at the Fourth World Conference on Women, it was agreed that if women make at least 33 percent of decision-making bodies, they would influence the growth of their numbers in decision-making bodies.

She said Zimbabwe was in a good position after surpassing the 33 percent mark, urging women to unite for their agenda despite their political affiliations.

The organisation has been working with women who would have already made it into positions of influence but now intends to work with them all the way.

Ms Petty Makoni, who was representing ZEC chairperson Justice Rita Makarau encouraged women to register as voters way ahead of the elections and support their female counterparts.

Zimbabwe’s new constitution has a special measure to increase women’s representation in Parliament including the introduction of 60 reserved seats for women in the National Assembly and is elected through a system of Proportional Representation based on the votes cast for political party candidates in the election.

The 60 reserved seats will be additional to any women elected to the other contested seats.