It is election time in Zambia, with citizens going to the polls today to elect the President, Members of Parliament and Councillors, and to vote in a constitutional referendum. It looks to be a close race, but unfortunately not as far as women are concerned.
What could have been a golden opportunity for women to flourish in the political arena has failed to materialise. Once again, women have been significantly thwarted by obstacles including political violence, prohibitive regulations and patriarchal attitudes. Luckily our Zambian partners, the Zambia National Women's Lobby (ZNWL) and Women for Change (WfC), have been a formidable force in supporting women to take their rightful place in Zambian politics and society.
In this election, there have been pitifully few female candidates, even fewer than in 2011’s election. Only 16 percent of parliamentary candidates are women, with equally disappointing numbers for Ward Councillors (9%) and Mayors (13%). Indeed, in Zambia only 14% of parliamentarians are women. This is despite calls for political parties to include more women, and commitments to the Southern African Development Community (SADC) goal of women to hold 50% of decision-making positions.
Significant obstacles
So why have women been so marginalised in this process? Our partners point to ‘a number of impediments standing in the way of women’s full participation’. First is electoral violence, which led to a suspension in campaigning following the fatal shooting of a female opposition supporter by police. There have also been reports of women candidates being beaten, intimidated and even stripped naked. Female candidates and voters are understandably deterred by violence, forcing many to stay away.
Then there is the increase in nomination fees for candidates and the recent requirement that candidates must hold a full grade 12 educational certificate. This puts women, especially in rural areas, at an automatic disadvantage, due to lack of money and educational opportunities and beliefs that a woman’s domain is domestic, not public. Many candidates have been forced to drop out as a result. “Patriarchal beliefs and the commercialisation of politics have marginalised women from political leadership,” says Juliet Kaira Chibuta, executive director of ZNWL.
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It is election time in Zambia, with citizens going to the polls today to elect the President, Members of Parliament and Councillors, and to vote in a constitutional referendum. It looks to be a close race, but unfortunately not as far as women are concerned.
What could have been a golden opportunity for women to flourish in the political arena has failed to materialise. Once again, women have been significantly thwarted by obstacles including political violence, prohibitive regulations and patriarchal attitudes. Luckily our Zambian partners, the Zambia National Women's Lobby (ZNWL) and Women for Change (WfC), have been a formidable force in supporting women to take their rightful place in Zambian politics and society.
In this election, there have been pitifully few female candidates, even fewer than in 2011’s election. Only 16 percent of parliamentary candidates are women, with equally disappointing numbers for Ward Councillors (9%) and Mayors (13%). Indeed, in Zambia only 14% of parliamentarians are women. This is despite calls for political parties to include more women, and commitments to the Southern African Development Community (SADC) goal of women to hold 50% of decision-making positions.
Significant obstacles
So why have women been so marginalised in this process? Our partners point to ‘a number of impediments standing in the way of women’s full participation’. First is electoral violence, which led to a suspension in campaigning following the fatal shooting of a female opposition supporter by police. There have also been reports of women candidates being beaten, intimidated and even stripped naked. Female candidates and voters are understandably deterred by violence, forcing many to stay away.
Then there is the increase in nomination fees for candidates and the recent requirement that candidates must hold a full grade 12 educational certificate. This puts women, especially in rural areas, at an automatic disadvantage, due to lack of money and educational opportunities and beliefs that a woman’s domain is domestic, not public. Many candidates have been forced to drop out as a result. “Patriarchal beliefs and the commercialisation of politics have marginalised women from political leadership,” says Juliet Kaira Chibuta, executive director of ZNWL.
Click here to access the source of this article.