adminAS the country heads towards the decisive harmonised elections on 31 July, women’s participation in the polls is once again under the spotlight.
Major political parties are winding up their primary elections in preparation for the general elections. However, only a handful of women from the three parties in the Inclusive Government have participated in the primary elections.
Gender activists were recently over the moon following the historic endorsement of a new constitution, which they say was a victory for women. They have therefore been calling for more women to participate in national politics.
Most of the women who are participating in parliamentary elections are basically the same people who are in Parliament, if not fewer.
In Bulawayo Province, for example, MDC-T would have two women who are going to represent the party in parliamentary elections next month.
Only 15 percent of people who contested in the party primaries in the province were women. Bulawayo has 12 constituencies and the two incumbent female MPs Ms Dorcas Sibanda (Bulawayo central) and Tabitha Khumalo (Bulawayo East) are once again representing the party.
In the revolutionary party, Zanu-PF, the challenge is still the same. In the same province about 14, 9 percent of people who were contesting in primary elections were women while in Matabeleland South province nine percent of people contesting in primary elections were women.
For MDC, some of the members were elected through “consensus” which means they did not go through primary elections. For those who went for primary elections in Bulawayo, 45, 4 percent were women.
The figures are only for those women contesting National Assembly seats.
Observers say the figures are still too low taking into account the effort put into promoting gender equality in all spheres of life including politics by different stakeholders. Gender activists say with their failure to participate in national politics, women are giving men room to once again dominate the august house and politics in general. Again, they say, this shows that the country still has a mammoth task to promote gender equality.
“The community needs to inculcate the culture of political participation among women,” said University of Zimbabwe political science lecturer, Dr Charity Manyeruke.
“Men should also start opening political space to enable women to participate in national politics. There is in fact a need to change their mindset so that they understand that women can lead the country,” she said.
For the next 10 years, through proportional representation, 60 seats in the Lower House will be reserved for women, according to the new constitution. Chapter 6 (124) which deals with the composition of Parliament reads: (1) The National Assembly consists of — (a) two hundred and ten members elected by secret ballot from the two hundred and ten constituencies into which Zimbabwe is divided; and (b) for the life of the first two Parliaments after the effective date, an additional 60 women members, six from each of the provinces into which Zimbabwe is divided, elected through a system of proportional representation based on the votes cast for candidates representing political parties in a general election for constituency members in the provinces.”
This clause, analysts say, does not prevent women from participating in an open election, competing with men.
Women in Politics Support Unit (WiPSU) director, Ms Fanny Chirisa is of the view that women are not relaxing. Instead, she said, men are taking advantage of the clause and are misinforming the electorate that women are not supposed to participate since they already have some seats reserved for them.
“Women have not relaxed. Unfortunately the men from the different political parties have been pushing the women to take up the 60 seats instead of contesting all the seats on offer. This has therefore been used as an opportunity to create more space for men.
“Furthermore, men are also de-campaigning women by confusing and telling the electorate that there is no need to nominate and elect women because women are catered for in the reserved seats,” said Ms Chirisa.
Deputy Minister of Women Affairs, Gender and Community Development, Jessie Majome said she was disappointed that few women participated in the parties’ primary elections. She said the same few old faces contested.
“The participation of women is still not good. There is a need to increase the number of women representing the different political parties. With few women who want to be nominated we will end up also having very few people who will have a chance to stand in national elections,” said Ms Majome.
“I will keep on encouraging women to participate in national politics. For these elections, very few women will participate so it is important for women to get involved in politics now so that the next general election will see women dominating.
“As a country we should keep on encouraging women to throw their hats into the ring. Sadc is working hard to ensure that its member states promote gender equality. Sadc wants that by 2015 women should be present in the entire decision making structures. The new constitution again promotes gender equality hence women should grab this opportunity.”
In Rwanda 56, 3 percent of parliamentarians are women, which makes that country the best country in the world in promoting women’s participation in politics.
Dr Manyeruke said political parties should also come up with their own policies that promote gender equality rather than depending on the constitution.
“All political parties need to enact policies to encourage the participation of women,” she said, adding, “This can also be done through the quota system. Political parties reserve certain constituencies for women.
“As a country we are far away from achieving the 50/50 gender equality. It is unfortunate that women worked hard for gender equality but all their efforts have not been fruitful. Party leaders should take the initiative to ensure that 50/50 gender equality is achieved.”
Ms Chirisa shared similar views with Dr Manyeruke. She urged political parties to have internal quota systems, which will give women a chance to participate in national politics in a more meaningful way.
Said Ms Chirisa:
“We need to ensure that all parties have quota systems. Once they have quota systems in place these need to be adhered to at all levels of representation within the political parties. The Rwandan Women’s Council concept, had it been adopted, would have been ensured more women are voted into office.”
She said participating in national politics at times required resources and few women had such resources.
“Electioneering takes money. The criteria set within the political parties have also hindered the full participation of women,” she said.
“The political party processes do not involve women equally in processes where CVs are vetted and planning is done.
“There is need for more women in the election directorate and vetting processes.”
Online Reporter