The Sunday Mail
Fatima Bulla-Musakwa
LOCAL political parties are fast becoming crucial conduits for aiding the progression of women into leadership and decision-making positions.
The parties have introduced policies and special measures, including quota systems, to facilitate the inclusion of women into national leadership.
Zanu PF has led by example through opening up space for women to take up leadership positions from the grassroots up to the national level.
The ruling party’s secretary for Women’s Affairs, Cde Mabel Chinomona said the party had adopted deliberate initiatives to foster the participation of women in all its structures.
“Our structures start from the grassroots, which we call the cell,” said Cde Chinomona.
“At the cell level we have positions set aside for women and women cadres can also assume the chairperson posts and that is acceptable.
“At the branch level we have a structure which is exclusively for women and no man is allowed to take up that post.
“In addition, women can take up posts in the youth wing and the main wing.
“So the set-up is meant to get in as many women as possible into leadership.”
MDC-T legislator Mrs Priscilla Misihairabwi-Mushonga stresses a point during a debate in Parliament
Women, she said, were allowed to contest for any position during the party’s internal elections for the recently reintroduced District Coordinating Committees.
“Women were allowed to contest in elections for the chairperson post to the last seat,” she said.
Opposition parties are also pushing for greater involvement of women in the structures.
Some have made commitments for 50 percent representation of women candidates for all governance positions in both internal and national elections.
While most parties have introduced gender-sensitive policies and manifestos, questions still remain over the recurring problem of the low number of women candidates deployed during elections.
Zimbabwe Women’s Bureau board chairperson, Ms Moira Ngaru said establishing structures that are exclusively for women in political parties does not go far enough to engender their participation in politics.
“The fact that parties have these provisions in their structures is a demonstration of gender awareness.
“However, the role of the women organs should be such that they contribute meaningfully to the parties’ gender sensitivity to increasing women in decision-making.”
Opposition legislator Mrs Priscilla Misihairabwi-Mushonga said were it not for the proportional representation system introduced through the 2013 Constitution, only a small number of women would have made it into Parliament.
She said the country’s electoral laws need to be amended to allow for greater participation of women in national and local government elections.
“Let us start at local government level where we need a quota system,” said Mrs Misihairabwi-Mushonga.
“The Ministry of Justice, Legal and Parliamentary Affairs does not need to change the Constitution but the Electoral Act so that women can be appointed into local authorities through proportional representation.”
President Mnangagwa has already endorsed plans to amend the Constitution in order to introduce a provision for a quota system for women in local government elections.
“The zebra system (proportional representation system) made it easy as reflected in the Senate for equal representation,” she said.
“We have commitment at the highest level, so hopefully the provision is introduced quickly.
“Local government level is where most decisions that affect women’s day-to-day lives are made.
“If you then have women councillors they can engage headmen and chiefs and then it will begin to reflect in Parliament.”
The Electoral Act compels political parties to facilitate full and equal participation of women in political activities and ensure free access of women to all public political meetings, marches, demonstrations, rallies and their political events.
Zimbabwe is party to international conventions such as the Convention on the Elimination of all forms of Discrimination Against Women which enjoins States to introduce measures that allow for equal participation of women in the political processes as well as governance.
Mr Taona Mwanyisa, who is an elections and governance expert said authorities need to introduce policies that help push women participation in elections beyond the introduction of quota systems.
“Herein lies my problem with the quota system, if not accompanied by strong measures that push for women’s equality beyond these temporary measures we will not achieve the 50 percent benchmark set by SADC,” Mr Mwanyisa said.
Research has shown that women who contest in politics are usually subjected to violence and sexual harassment.
In addition, most women fail to contest for political positions on account of lack of funding.
Former Mbare councillor and businesswoman, Mrs Maureen Nyemba said during her tenure in office, women candidates faced humiliation on account of their gender.
“We have instances where you could be insulted publicly by the youths from your party,” said Mrs Nyemba.
“They do things to frustrate you so that you will give up and then they can take up those positions.”
Development practitioner Mrs Lucia Gunguwo lamented the culture of elbowing out potential women leaders from leadership contests by men through nefarious activities.
“We have seen how women have been humiliated in politics by their male counterparts,” said Mrs Gunguwo.
“We have instances where the very men who are supposed to protect women are the very same ones leading the abuse of women.
“When other women witness that, do you think they will want to join politics?
“If political parties cannot protect women in their parties, it’s a scary thing.”
Zimbabwe joins the world in commemorating the International Women’s Day (IWD) tomorrow which is themed:
“Women’s rights to decision-making vital in the face against Covid-19”.
