Zim ranks 63 on women representation in parliament

Thandeka Matebesi 

Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU), a global organisation of national Parliaments whose goal is to empower parliamentarians to promote peace, democracy and sustainable development has ranked Zimbabwe number 63 globally, in terms of women representation in Parliament. 

According to the latest monthly statistics women occupy 81 seats out of 265 seats in the lower house while 34 of the 77 seats in the upper house are occupied by women. 

Democracy watchdog, Veritas Zimbabwe notes that “While Zimbabwe has made strides in enacting laws that protect and encourage women’s electoral participation both as candidates and the electorate through Sections 3, 17, 56 (2), 80, 120 and 124 of the Constitution, the environment remains toxic and unfriendly to women. Good laws alone, are however not enough. 

Women are called derogatory and demeaning names on social media whenever they attempt to enter into the political landscape or speak out about a certain social issue. 

Many at times social factors such as age and marital status are used mostly by men as a weapon to silence women or ‘disqualify’ them from speaking out.”

Few women have dared to challenge harassment and few have been successful. In 2022 Citizens Coalition for Change (CCC) national Spokesperson Fadzayi Mahere dragged journalist Edmund Kudzayi to court following his allegations that Mahere was involved with a married Harare businessman.

For the past ten years, Councillor Tendai Sibanda of Ward 5 in Hwange has endured all forms of threats and insults from  a section of the very people whose interests she represents in council. 

She feels she is an easy target because she is a woman who dared to contest for a leadership position, something which a patriarchal society like Zimbabwe considers obscene and unnatural. 

“I get bullied all the time, people threaten to beat me up whenever I  give them feedback.This happens when I give them information which does not go down well with them.

 It (politics) needs someone who is brave and has a strong heart. Sometimes you think of quitting because you will be called names, for example some people call me   “old” These men will push you to the limit. They also use some women to fight other women. I wonder if we will ever achieve the 50/50 gender equality,” she said.

However, councillor Sibanda has become a gender champion who advocates for women’s participation in civic matters with a goal to attain equal representation among men and women. 

“As a gender champion l will not tire until we achieve our goal. I don’t let the insults and bullying get to me. I just keep quiet and humble myself to avoid noise and arguments. I encourage women to stand firm and be courageous and also to come forward and take up political positions as we lobby for that 50 – 50 percentage in governance,” said Sibanda.

Nicola Watson who is the current Member of Parliament for Bulawayo Central revealed that she sometimes receives racial insults on social media. 

“I sometimes get bullied on social media and the comments are generally racial, but I’ve learnt to brush it off. I just ignore the comments, I don’t respond to any of them”, she said. 

Honourable Watson also expressed concern over high nomination fees saying they will further deter women from fully participating in politics and governance. 

The Zimbabwe Electoral Commission has said “ensuring women’s voices are heard, their concerns are addressed, and their potential contribution to peace and democracy are maximised is important in electoral processes”.

In the recently held ZANU PF primary elections out of a total of 54 candidates who were running for the National House of Assembly seats in Matabeleland North Province only 15 were women. Of the 15, 12 were competing for National Assembly seats while 3 were for the Senate. 

United Nations Women Executive Director Sima Bahous has been on record saying “Full democracy needs the equal participation of women in all its processes. Yet continued violence and threats – online and offline against women leaders, candidates and voters blight the potential for their voices and knowledge to bring the change that is so urgently needed for economic and social recovery”.