adminZvamaida Murwira Senior Reporter
ONLY 85 women out of 270 legislators have secured seats in the National Assembly, a figure that falls short of the desired target of 50- 50 gender representation by 2015 set by the United Nations Millennium Development Goals. Political parties fielded fewer women as candidates in the just ended 31 July election, as only 25 women were elected in a contested race for the National Assembly.
Zanu-PF constitutes the bulk of the winners after the revolutionary party had 18 women elected with the MDC-T securing the remaining seven.
The figure rises to 85 after factoring 60 seats reserved for women as provided for by the new Constitution of Zimbabwe as part of efforts to strike gender parity in decision making.
The women would, however, take solace in Senate as they fell short of one Senator to achieve 50-50 representation in the Upper House after they secured 39 out of 80, the total number that constitute Senators.
Outgoing Parliamentary Women Caucus chairperson Cde Beatrice Nyamupinga said there had been great improvement in women representation in the July 31 election but the improvement was not enough for women to achieve a 50-50 representation by 2015, the deadline set to meet MDG goals.
“We are happy with the improvement from what we were in the last Parliament but, because there would be no other elections until 2018, we are disappointed that we have failed to meet the MDG goals of gender parity by 2015,” said Cde Nyamupinga.
She attributed the lower number of women in the National Assembly to political parties who failed to ensure that a higher number of female candidates registered to contest with the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission during the sitting of the Nomination Court.
“Political parties should have adhered to the Constitution and ensure that women from their parties register with the Nomination Court,” she said.
Cde Nyamupinga said their caucus was confident that more women would be appointed in Cabinet as the new Government take office.
“Going forward, we are looking at the new Government to appoint as many women as possible in Cabinet and other decision making positions. It is not what we want but what the Constitution provides.
“We have no doubt that the President would appoint more women because he has always supported us,” said Cde Nyamupinga.
Among the women who will be in the National Assembly through the women’s quota are Cde Constance Shamu, wife to Minister of Media, Information and Publicity Cde Webster Shamu, Cde Sikhanyisiwe Mpofu, wife to Umguza legislator Cde Obert Mpofu, outgoing Minister of Water Resources Development and Management Samuel Sipepa-Nkomo’s wife Roselyn.
Others are Cde Sabina Thembani and Cde Tsitsi Gezi, wife of the late national hero Cde Border Gezi.
Online Reporter