Women in Politics urged to soldier on

Cebolenkosi Mhlanga

In spite of challenges they face, women in politics should be prepared to soldier on until their voices are clearly heard and their decisions are respected without them being intimidated, harassed or coerced.

The call came during a recently held meeting hosted by Gender and Media Connect for women politicians designed to give  women a platform to share texperiences and challenges they faced during and after the 2023 harmonized elections.

During the meeting, women highlighted a number of gender attacks they face and stereotypes that are deeply hinged on gender norms which in most cases make women forgo politics in fear of being labelled.

Some of the common challenges women politicians listed were victimization, being silenced, suppression, lack of support from their political parties and lack of funds.

Speaking during the meeting Nompilo Bhebhe who was campaigning under Zimbabwe African National Congress (ZANC) party, said women have to know who they are and stand unshaken for what they believe in.

She went on to state that she intends to pave a smooth pathway for the next generation of women who want to take part in politics to ensure that they do not face the same challenges they are facing.

“As women we should know that some of the incredible things done on this earth were done by women. Women are capable of doing a lot hence we have to firmly stand for what we want and believe in ourselves. We must fight for that change and have a level pedestal with our male counterparts.

There are many ambitious young women we see who want to take up leadership positions but are afraid of being victimized and taken advantage of. So since we have already started the fight we want to change that narrative so that the next generation that comes in can work in a better environment.

I tell young women that I interact with  about all the challenges as they are so that they know what to expect and be ready to face them,” Bhebhe said.

Ward 17 Councillor, Sikhululekile Moyo said in Zimbabwe political spaces are viewed as a men’s field hence political parties do not uphold support systems for women in politics.

“The biggest challenge we face is that our own political parties do not have the structures that support women and men use money to influence women to work against each other promoting the, ‘pull her down syndrome’ and de-campaign everything we want to do,” 

Moyo said she did not get any funding for her campaigns but that did not stop her from getting what she wanted.

“I appreciate the support I get especially from my ward. I had no money going into the campaign but I got the support I needed from young women I work with. I was funded by vendors in my community and that helped a lot.

This political world needs physically, mentally stable and strong women who will understand that this journey is not easy and learn to stand on their own,” she said.