Zanu PF women demand 50-50 share of power 

Source: Zanu PF women demand 50-50 share of power – DailyNews Live

Blessings Mashaya      9 January 2018

HARARE – Zanu PF Women’s League has made a “non-negotiable” demand of 50
percent share of the ruling party’s political power.

According to the ruling party’s central committee report presented to the
2017 special extraordinary congress, the women’s league said females still
don’t have enough representation in leadership positions and that impacts
how decisions are made.

“The disproportionate statistics of women in decision-making position in
the party as well as public and private institutions continue to be a
cause of concern

“This issue has been topical in the women’s league resolutions of the 15th
and 16th national peoples conferences.

“It is the women’s league belief that buy-in to ensure 50/50 or at least a
quota representation of women should start with the party itself.”

At the Zanu PF extraordinary congress in December last year, Mnangagwa
ignored calls for the restoration requiring the election of a woman vice
president that was first  advanced by former first lady Grace Mugabe  when
she was the women’s league boss.

The quota system was supposed to be adopted at the last extra ordinary
congress, which would have seen Grace replace Mnangagwa after Zanu PF
provinces had already endorsed her.

The Central Committee report calls for the need to respect the country’s
Constitution  which promotes equality.

“Women continue to struggle for recognition and inclusion in all levels of
decision-making in line with other endeavours that promote gender
equality.

The women’s league aims to increase women participation and representation
in politics and alllevels of decision-making in line with Constitutional
provisions that promote equality and equity,” the report added.

Analysts said even the value of gender equality provided for in terms of
section 3(g) of the Constitution had not been taken into account in terms
of Cabinet appointments.

Women still lag behind in leadership posts despite that 2013 Constitution
having several sections that promote gender parity.

Section 17(1) of the Constitution stipulates that it is mandatory for the
State to promote gender parity.

The Proportional Representation quota under section 120(2)(a) of the
Constitution provides for the election of senators under a party system of
proportional representation, in which male and female candidates are
listed alternatively, with females heading the list, while Section
124(1)(b) provides for seats to be reserved for women.

Human rights groups say although women make up 52 percent of Zimbabwe’s 13
million population, they are not represented meaningfully in positions of
governance. For example, out of the 10 provincial governors in Zimbabwe,
only three are women.