Young people account for close to 60 percent of the Zimbabwe’s 12, 9 million inhabitants and play a central role in the country’s future. The participation of young women in politics at both local and national level in Zimbabwe is still limited.
“The State must promote the full participation of women in all spheres of Zimbabwean society on the basis of equality with men,” reads the draft Constitution.
No voice
Findings from the United Nations Millennium Development Goals 2012 report revealed that more women were elected in systems of proportional representation than in majority electoral systems.
According to election data collected in 2011, women were not vying for seats in sufficient numbers to make a large electoral impact. Youth Forum, a Zimbabwean youth oriented non-governmental organisation, attributes this to failure by young women to amplify their voices.
A statement issued by the organisation’s information department states that:
“The participation of young women in politics is worrisome and disturbing. Their voices are just enveloped in either young people’s voices or women’s voices and their real voice is nonexistent,” reads the statement.
The organisation said this is because young women relegated themselves to the periphery of political activity based on gender stereotyping.
“Most young women do not even consider going for voter registration,” read the statement.
The new draft constitution reserves 60 parliamentary seats for women.
As the country heads for elections, the number of women vying for political posts has remained low.
A hostile climate
“There are a lot of impediments to their active participation. The political climate is
still very hostile for women in general and even worse for young women,” read the statement.
Batsirai Hwata from Warren Park said young women involved in politics bore the brunt of a lot of criticism.
“Society discourages young women from participing in politics and their private life comes under fire if they show any interest in taking up political posts,” he said.
Fear of ridicule
A pastor from the United Methodist Church in Zimbabwe said: “Young women resent political activity for fear of society’s ridicule. Women in politics are viewed as having loose morals and young women avoid it because of this.”
Youth Information and Education for Behavior Change Programmes Manager, David Chidende, said there is need for information dissemination to ensure that women knew the advantages of taking up leadership positions.
“More advocacy campaigns should be done, especially at the grassroots level,” he said.
Post published in: News