The group said in a press statement that it would also engage female members of South Africa’s Parliament to “urge them to add their voices in urging for a resolution to the crisis in Zimbabwe”.
The South African feminists said they had decided to take action in solidarity with their Zimbabwean sisters who are pushing for a quick resolution of a deadlock between President Robert Mugabe and opposition leader Morgan Tsvangirai over control of key ministries in a unity government.
Over 40 of Zimbabwean women activists were arrested on Monday as they protested against the delays by Mugabe and Tsvangirai to form the unity government outlined under a September 15 power-sharing agreement.
The Zimbabwean women accuse the country’s political leaders of jostling for power and cushy ministerial positions while food shortages worsen and the country sinks deeper into economic misery.
“We are alarmed that political egos are taking centre stage while there has been a general collapse in provision of basic services like access to clean water and sanitation,” Jean Beukes, a member of Building Women’s Activism, said in a statement echoing the views of her Zimbabwean colleagues.
Beukes added: “Reports of deaths due to hunger have become common-place and the health delivery system has all but shut down. It is time that political leaders are held accountable and put the needs of the people first.”
Other activities planned by the South African feminists include marches and other public actions aimed at raising awareness of Zimbabwe’s deepening crisis while its political leaders bicker over who should wield more power in the unity government.
Zimbabwe’s power-sharing deal retains Mugabe as president while making Tsvangirai prime minister and another opposition leader Arthur Mutambara deputy prime minister.
The bare bones agreement allots 15 Cabinet posts to Mugabe’s ruling ZANU PF party, 13 to the Tsvangirai-led MDC and three to a faction of the opposition led by Mutambara.
However it is silent about who gets which specific posts and the rival parties have since the signing of the agreement wrangled over who should control the most powerful ministries such as defence, finance and home affairs. – ZimOnline
Post published in: News