By Memory Mudzani
Melody Chingarande who is an aspiring councilor for ward 5 Mbizo constituency said that the political atmosphere is not conducive for women, and there is need for women to be brave enough in order for them to influence leadership positions in their societies.
“Our political atmosphere is not conducive for women there is need for us women to be brave enough and also this patriarchal thing we still having it, a lot of women don’t believe in themselves they just believe on patriarchal society where we grew up in as women and this is limiting most women to occupy leading roles or taking political positions,” said Chingarande
In an interview with ERC programs’ manager Solomon Bobosibunu who is also an election expert ,he said women easily participate as supporters of other candidates and not as candidates themselves and he said that this is the reason for the current state of depressed numbers of women in key positions of power.
He further said that the political culture has been punctuated by episodes of violence, name calling and many other ills and in that regard violence against women in all spheres has also contributed to low interest by women as they feel for their own safety, their own children and families.
Bobosibunu also said that Support structures and male dominated decision making structures within political parties have immensely contributed as there is no one to bargain for women on the table, It is thus extremely difficult to see women climb the ladder in politics and he also said historical issues to do with access to resources that is financial and material contributes to low participation of women in politics particularly in leadership positions.
Gokwe deputy mayor councilor Charity Mungwani said women needs to be empowered with knowledge on political leadership because most women think these political positions are meant for men ,so women needs more capacitation and campaigns such that if taught they will understand and start having courage to participating in these political leaderships process and in politics as a whole .
Tawanda Munikwa who is an aspiring councilor for Kwekwe ward 14 said politics requires a lot of time out of home yet most women are required to do the households chores for example looking after the children and even looking after their husbands or men who are doing politics and he further said that most women don’t support each other, they rather vote for male counterparts and there is need for them to support each other.
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