The women came up with various resolutions to promote their involvement in politics at a recent stakeholders and media briefing in Harare on increasing women’s participation in politics.
The programme was hosted by Humanitarian Information Facilitation Centre in conjunction with Women in Politics Support Unity, a group that works to capacitate female politicians and lobby for their political rights.
WIPSU Programmes Manager, Patricia Muwandi, said although the new draft constitution promotes the participation of women in parliament by giving them a two term 60 seats, the same document is silent on local government representation. HIFC Director, Virginia Muwanigwa said it was about increasing the female voice at a decision making level.
“There is need to employ women in the administration side of local government so that they can contribute to what council does,” she said. During his 2013 City of Harare budget statement and proposal, Finance Committee Chairperson, Councillor Friday Muleya said there was a need for local authorities and central government to implement conventions and declarations on gender. “The City has a lot to do in order to address the current gender imbalances,” he said.
Norton Town Council, Audit Committee Chairperson, Councillor Mollen Rutsate, said political violence was one of the obstacles to women’s participation in politics.
“Women and children are the victims and they withdraw to protect their children. If we eradicate all forms of violence, we can improve their participation,” said Rutsate.
Chitungwiza Town Councillor Wendy Chiriri said despite the fact that women constitute the majority of the population, the majority of them did not have identity documents. Chiriri added that lack of coordination between parliament and local government was reversing development and service delivery.
“Local government is an arm of the central government but we do not know what the head (Parliament) is doing,” said Chiriri. City of Harare Councillor, Paula Macharangwanda, said most married women found it hard to participate in politics due to discrimination by their husbands.
Another Harare City Councillor, Charity Bango, said there was a need to educate women about their political rights and motivate them into participating. “Most women think that politics is a man’s game and there should be a paradigm-shift to lure them into politics. There is also need to appoint women in strategic and decision-making positions. It sounds unfair for men but women have been marginalized for too long,” she added.
Dzivarasekwa Constituency, MP Evelyn Masaiti said that once the draft constitution was voted in, women should stand up and demand its full implementation.
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