Increased women representation lauded
ZIMBABWE Local Government Association (ZILGA) president Cde Killer Zivhu has applauded the increase in women representation in local authorities here following the just-ended harmonised elections.
Cde Zivhu, who is also president of the Association of Rural District Councils of Zimbabwe, said the increased number of female councillors in rural and urban councils in the province showed that true democracy was prevailing in the country.
He said the high number of women elected into local authorities showed that females no longer regarded politics as a preserve for their male counterparts alone.
“The increase in women representation in our urban and rural local authorities shows that there is democracy prevailing in the country and it shows that women are no longer afraid of taking up political positions,” said Cde Zivhu. “Women have begun to understand that there is need to support each other, a lot of them did not believe that another woman can lead them, but now they have that understanding that women have the same potential as men.’’
Cde Zivhu emphasised that ZILGA was advocating 50/50 representation of women and men in councils and parliament. He said his organisation expected the percentage of women to further jump in the next elections in 2023.
“He said the prevailing democracy ushered by the new dispensation had opened up better and new opportunities for women to venture into politics.
Cde Grace Mukungunugwa who retained her seat in ward 5, Chivi, where she was re-elected on a ZANU PF ticket in the just-ended polls said the increased number of female councillors in Masvingo was a consolidation of democratic gains brought by the new dispensation.
“We appreciate the increase in the number of females elected into council positions during the just-ended elections. We feel this development augurs well for women as a whole because more of their counterparts are in decision-making and leadership positions and can easily pursue their interests,” said Cde Mukungunugwa.
A total of 23 women out of 242 seats were voted into rural and urban council seats across Masvingo in the justended harmonised elections.
Masvingo Rural District Council is leading with seven new female councillors. Mwenezi and Chiredzi RDC are the only local authorities without female representation in council.