With general elections expected to take place in Zimbabwe this coming March, a campaign is underway to increase women's political participation in the Southern African country.
More than 150 female candidates filed their nomination papers a fortnight ago to contest the March 29 elections, surpassing the 30% quota women support groups were lobbying for.
Zimbabwe’s gender activists drawn from government, civil society, faith-based organisations, private sector and donor agencies will meet on September 11 to map a way forward on the SADC Protocol on Gender and Development, signed on August 17 by Southern African Development Community (SADC) Heads
A traditional chief in Manicaland with strong ZANU PF links, has instituted civil proceedings to ban women from holding political posts in his chiefdom.
Addressing participants at a four-day workshop organized by Women In Politics Support Unit in Nyanga, the Senate President emphasized the need for women parliamentarians to unite so that women's issues are articulated and incorporated in the new constitution.
MUTOKO North legislator Cde Mabel Chinomona has urged women to play an active role in the constitution-making process.
Zimbabwe's veteran women politicians fear there are no younger women coming up through the ranks to replace them. Measures to improve women's representation have achieved little and young women are absent from the traditional entry points into politics.
WOMEN attending the international conference on economic and political empowerment and peace building in Harare have backed the quota system that enables them to take up decision making positions.
Fungai Masuku (not a real name) is still haunted by the events of the election re-run campaign of March 2008.