Angolan women, particularly those in Government, want to reach equality in the number of decision makers in the coming years, the minister of Familiy and Woman Promotion, Genoveva Lino, said Wednesday in Luanda.

Addressing a press conference, Genoveva Lino acknowledged that the number of female decision makers has been increasing, reaching now 30 percent, which she admits to be an improvement, but not enough, since women have always played important roles in the country's development.

Commenting on the National Constitutional Conference's recommendation that a presidential candidate must be a holder of a first degree, Wina, who is former Nalolo member of parliament, explained that the recommendation was not feasible.

“The levels of literacy are very low and the levels of understanding and acceptance... The whole idea of confining the presidency to those who hold degrees is not possible,” said Wina. “I fear that more women will be disadvantaged because there are very few of them in universities particularly the University of Zambia (UNZA) and the other universities in the country.

“So at what point shall we have a woman president for this country if we had to base everything on university qualification? So that's why I consider this clause as discriminatory. It will definitely result in failure because it's discriminatory.”

Women in politics are always being judged. You’re either too pretty to be taken seriously, or you’re too frigid and aloof to be likeable. Either your skirts are too short, or your pantsuits are too ugly. You can’t win. But there are more subtle instances of sexism that appear in politics. There have been improvements toward women’s rights and equality through the ages, but there is no doubt that there are still double standards in society that need to be highlighted to this day. There are still actions that are viewed as wholly inappropriate for women but are ignored or at least not fussed over if done by a man.

"It was too hectic, tiring and one needs a lot of stamina to be in the rough and tumble of politics. You do not deal with normality, there is a bit of madness."

Mwansa, who cites the adage "if you can’t stand the heat, get out of the kitchen", is just another woman who has declined to participate in the country’s next elections. She says that having to constantly watch her back; putting out fires where other people created problems for her; and just having to be alert of plotting against her 24/7 became a bit too much.