Women undertake to lobby for quota system

constitutional changes that create quota systems that ensure their increased participation in decision-making positions.
In Zimbabwe, the quota system is not enshrined in the national constitution and is not enforceable.
The women have also agreed to domesticate regional and international frameworks that protect and prevent violations against them and promote involvement in peace building and conflict prevention.
The advancement of the peace agenda will be done through the creation of women’s networks for peace at all levels.
Presenting a draft document on the way forward to Vice President Joice Mujuru yesterday, the Minister of Women Affairs, Gender and Community Development, Dr Olivia Muchena, said her ministry in conjunction with other stakeholders would lobby for quotas in party constitutions and manifestos and the national constitution.
She said they would lobby for the creation of the Gender Equality Act, taking a leaf from South Africa and Rwanda, which increased female participation in parliament by 39 and 56 percent respectively.
Using examples of Rwanda and Uganda’s experiences, Minister Muchena said they would also lobby for electoral provisions that were gender sensitive.
Uganda has increased female participation in Parliament to 31,5 percent.
“We in Zimbabwe are most grateful to participants from all the countries represented here because they have enriched us.
“They have given us enough information at a very opportune time and it is now up to us to put that information in a manner that we can deliver to relevant actors at the most appropriate time especially in regard to the constitution making process and electoral laws,” said Dr Muchena.
Rwanda’s Gender and Family Promotion director general, Mr Alfred Karekezi, said they started by enshrining the quota system in their national constitution in 2003.
Thereafter, the Government came up with an independent organisation called the National Women Council that works closely with women in empowerment projects and has structures down to village level.
Mr Karekezi said Rwanda also came up with the gender monitoring office – another independent institution advocating gender equality.
“These structures were respected so much that when they were first introduced, we had 41 percent of female representation in Parliament and now it is continuing to increase and currently we are at 56 percent,” Mr Karekezi said.
Ugandan Gender and Culture Minister, Nakadama Rukia, said her country changed the constitution in 1995, making it a requirement that every district should have a woman in Parliament.
She said their law also demanded groups of people representing the marginalised in society such as those living with disabilities to include women as part of their representatives in Parliament.
She urged Zimbabweans to start thinking of implementation of provisions of the constitution dealing specifically with women.
“As you draft the constitution, the women of Zimbabwe may need to start thinking about its implementation, particularly aligning different pieces of the legislation to the constitution. You should prepare yourself for continuous negotiations with all segments of the society particularly the traditional institutions and religious organisations,” she said.
Officially closing the conference, VP Mujuru urged women to study the beliefs of institutions they were coming from and package the information in a way that best suited their beliefs.
“It is important that each one of us identify the type of institution they work for and use that information to develop their strategy on the way forward. The one size fits all approach will not simply work.
“We should seek to influence our environment in a manner that enables us to get to our results,” Cde Mujuru said.
VP Mujuru urged women who participated in the conference to disseminate what they learnt with others in various areas they come from.