Zimbabwe’s March 26 parliamentary by-elections recorded no movement in the number of women participating in political contests. According to Zimbabwe Electoral Commission (ZEC), statistics, only 15 percent of the candidates in the polls were female — the same figure as the July 2018 general National Assembly elections.
Women remain underrepresented in party political posts, parliament and in the cabinet despite efforts to achieve the 50/50 representation in politics, according to women rights watchdogs.
The 2019 Global Gender Gap report says the largest disparity in women’s political participation in Sub-Saharan Africa will take at least 135 years to close the gender gap based on current trends.
Official figures on Zimbabwean women’s representation in Parliament show that at their lowest women were at 9 percent and 22 percent at the highest. This is below the 30 percent minimum set out in the 1997 Southern African Development Community (SADC) Declaration on Gender and Development, and even further from the 50 percent benchmark set by the SADC Protocol on Gender and Development and Millennium Development Goal 3.
Regionally, Rwanda has surpassed the 50 percent mark with 56.3 percent women in its Parliament. South Africa followed closely behind at 45 percent after the 2009 elections. According to statistics from the Inter-Parliamentary Union, given the Sub-Saharan Africa regional average of 17.8 percent women’s representation in Parliaments, it will take some 25 years just to reach a critical mass of 30 percent and another 25 years to reach 50 percent.
Here is a list of some of the leading organisations in Zimbabwe that are pushing for greater women participation in politics.
Zimbabwe Gender Commission (ZGC)
In 2020, the ZGC conducted a gender audit to establish representation of women within political parties. Findings were that no political party managed to achieve the 50/50 between men and women in 2018 elections. In efforts to improve women participation in politics, ZGC wants the Electoral Act to be amended. It says the ZEC should accept only party candidates’ lists of nominees that have a 50/50 gender balance.
Women’s Academy for Leadership and Political Excellence (WALPE)
WALPE is a women’s political empowerment and leadership academy set up to advance knowledge and deepen the capacity of women who want to run public elected positions. It seeks to provide women with technical and practical trainings that empower them to run public offices.
Women In Politics Support Unit (WiPSU)
WIPSU has established community forums where women leaders and female constituents meet to discuss women’s issue in effort to encourage women participation in politics.
In 2003, WiPSU launched a campaign ‘vote for a woman’ to increase female representation. Again in 2009, it launched 50/50 campaign with the aim of motivating women not just to vote but also stand for political office.
Women Politicians’ Incubator Zimbabwe
It is a non-partisan training and mentoring establishment that develops women for political leadership. In 2017, they have been conducting and creating platforms for dialogue of female independent candidates.
Women’s Coalition of Zimbabwe (Wcoz)
It has been pushing for the strengthening of women’s rights for a sustainable tommorow. They have also encouraged female politicians to use Information and Communication Technologies (ICTs) to create their own space and agency by at community, state and international levels despite impacts of ICTs. In March 2022, Wcoz were awarded for being outstanding organisation in support of women. They are also calling for applications to prospective female independent candidates from Kariba for the 2023 elections.
GenderLinks Zimbabwe
It is a Non-governmental Organisation for justice and equality. It has been conducting meetings on women’s leadership and political participation in partnership with United Nations (UN) Women. It encourages political parties to support and nominate female candidates since women are only supported by their families and friends and not the parties they represent. It also organisers regional gender awards with categories such as Best Reporter on Women Political Participation
Women’s Institute for Leadership Development (WILD)
A non-profit organisation which seeks to invest in building and strengthening power of women’s involvement in leadership and decision making, both in rural and urban communities of Zimbabwe. WILD conducts Leadership mentoring school target elections candidates as a move towards increasing the participation and representation of women in electoral process. On International Women’s Day, WILD launched the #GetTheBalanceRight campaign with the aim of increasing the participation of women as candidates in the just ended by-elections and the 2023 elections.
Women Development Association in Zimbabwe (WODAZ)
It acts as the voice of women both in social and political spheres. It seeks to contribute to the opening up, expansion and accessibility of space for women participation in decision making as well as in the country’s democratic processes.
WODAZ works with organisations such as WILD, CYDT (Community Youth Development Trust) and Tree of Life which also channel their strength and resources to advance women politically and economically.
United Nations (UN) Women
UN Women has been lobbying for closure of some gaps in women’s rights in Zimbabwe. It says the Zimbabwe government should organise periodical targeted activities on the prevention, protection and participation of women within all line ministries.
Gender Media Connect (GMC)
Gender Media Connect (GMC) works with women organisations and the media in a non-partisan manner to promote gender sensitive reporting and to advance the interests of women across sectors, including politics.
Zimbabwe Women Parliamentary Caucus (ZWPC)
A body representing Zimbabwean women members of parliament, working across party lines, to promote gender equity and the contribution of women in politics and general development in the country.
Sources: ZEC, WALPE, ZWPC, Gender Media Connect (GMC), Act4Women database, Zimbabwe Gender Commission, Gender Links
GenderLinks Zimbabwe: https://genderlinks.org.za/barometer-newsletter/zimbabwe-women-in-politics-support-unit-2011-03-02/
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