Sub Saharan Africa

The number of women who have shown interest in elective seats inTrans Nzoia county has increased compared to previous general elections.

Political experts attribute the increase to the new constitution which has created more elective positions for women.However, despite the new entrants, most of those giving it a try for the second or third time never succeeded in past elections.

In the history of Trans Nzoia, all seats have been won by men. Women have only been lucky to be nominated as councilors. Most women politicians are, however, interested in women representative.

Speech by Michelle Bachelet during a meeting with the private sector at the Transcorp Hilton in Abuja, Nigeria. 10 January 2013. [Check against delivery] I am so pleased to be here in Abuja and to be joined by the Minister of Women Affairs and Social Development, Hajiya Zainab Maina; Ms. Evelyn Oputu, Managing Director of [...]

Sierra Leone gender activists on Monday bemoaned the low representation of women in the country’s parliament after recent general elections, saying it has steadily decreased.

“The blame should be laid on the doorstep of political parties,” said gender activist Caroline Smart, adding that they had not come through on promises to see a 30 percent quota for women in parliament.

Bernadette Lahai is the newly elected parliamentary leader of the opposition Sierra Leone People’s Party and the only woman to ever hold the post.

The Women in Law and Development in Africa (WiLDAF) has presented names of 65 women it says can be appointed by President John Mahama in his government.

The names were contained in a petition signed by Bernice Sam, Executive Director, WiLDAF Ghana, and sent to the president.

The petition was headlined “Affirmative Action: Appoint 40% Women in NDC Government.”

WiLDAF says the NDC must in fulfillment of its own manifesto in 2012 have 40 per cent of women representation in all public appointments.

As countries across West Africa transition to democracy following years of autocratic rulers, civil unrest, and sometimes civil war, women are frequently left out of the process. Though they make up more than half of the population, women are often excluded from politics by rigid social norms, opaque party structures and other societal hurdles.

Yet democracies with more women in power have been shown to yield more equitable societies, have less corruption, and make more advancements in education, infrastructure and health standards.

Speaking during the launch, ZNWL founding member Gladys Mutukwa explained that the funds were part of efforts by the women’s movement to fulfill the SADC declaration of having at least 50 per cent women in decisio-making positions.

According to Ms Mutukwa, the decision to have a financial resource base for women candidates was arrived at after reviewing the findings of the report on the performance of women in the 2011 elections.