Women Reform Network Lobby Political Parties To End Violence Against Women In Politics

The Women Reform Network (WRN) has urged all political parties to end violence against women in politics and punish the culprits.
The group lobbyied that a ban on perpetrators of violence against women from contesting for any leadership post be encouraged.

In a petition, WRN noted that, women were not fully and fairly represented in the by-elections that were held last month.
They noted that considering the population of women in the country which is more than 50%, they were lowly represented in the by elections, only 15.5 % of women were elected as councillors and 21.4% as members of Parliament.

“The country held by-elections on the 26th of March 2022 following recalls and deaths resulting in 28 vacancies in National Assembly seats and 122 vacancies in local authority seats, commending the citizens and other actors who pushed for compliance with the applicable law on by-elections to resolve the democratic deficit resulting from the vacancies.
“Applauding the women who braved adverse circumstances to contest the by-elections as MPs and Councillors, as well as those who supported female candidates, Restating that women in Zimbabwe constitute more than 50% of the general population, Deeply concerned that only a paltry 15.5% of women were elected as councillors and 21.4% as MPs, a far cry from the constitutionally mandated 50/50.
WRN was agitated by the failure of political parties to adhere to their own constitutions and election manifestos calling for gender equality and they were alarmed by the failure to adhere to constitutions that advocate for equal participation of both female and male in politics.
“Realising that the decrease in participation of women is also a result of intra-party structural barriers and traditions, which inhibit women’s ability to run for office. Condemning incidences of violence against women in politics recorded before, during and after the by-elections, forcing some female candidates to drop out of the primary electoral processes.
“Therefore WRN advocates for the full implementation of gender equality laws, policies, manifestos by political parties which guarantee 50/50 gender representation in all leadership.
“With the 2023 harmonised elections fast approaching, we urge political parties to adhere to the dictates of the Zimbabwe national constitution in particular chapter 17, 56 and 80 which calls for gender equality.

WRN also urged political parties to formulate and implement policies and strategies that capacitate women with various leadership skills and techniques to boost their confidence to fully participate in electoral processes as both candidates and voters.
“Intensify resource mobilisation for women who wish to participate in leadership positions. Increase and guarantee security for women who wish to run for public office and also to commit to end all forms of violence against women in politics and punish perpetrators including barring them from contesting for any leadership position,” WRN said.