Support female candidates, women urged

WOMEN in the Midlands Province have been encouraged to support female candidates eyeing parliamentary and council seats to attain the 50-50 gender equality representation in decision-making positions.

Speaking at an advocacy workshop for the Women’s Coalition last week, Midlands Chapter chairperson Mrs Violet Magodo said it was high time women push for their fellow candidates into positions of authority from ward, council and legislative representation.

“The 50-50 gender equality representation is attainable if we vote for our fellow women,” she said.

“Let’s us vote them as councillors so that our immediate challenges are addressed.

“It is the women who suffer if local authorities fail to deliver services such as water, refuse collection and health services.”

Ms Magodo said women could transform service delivery in local authorities if they were given a chance.

Female aspiring candidates from various political parties said they were motivated to push the agenda of women’s development, adding that their participation in higher offices was an effective way to have women-specific challenges addressed

“The fact that women require essentials like sanitary pads to be readily available for free can better be lobbied by a female legislator than a male legislator.

“We need improvements in line with sexual and reproductive health”, said an aspiring councillor from Lalapanzi, Ms Berinna Mpofu.

Improving the status of women in Zimbabwe across the board has long been a priority for Government, as highlighted in Section 56 and 17 of the Zimbabwean Constitution and international agreements that Zimbabwe has signed.