Give women political space, let them shine

TELEVISION programmes ventilate the preparedness of aspiring women leaders to participate in elections. On January 15, 2022, the Women’s Academy for Leadership and Political Excellence (Walpe) with support from Free Fund hosted a talk-show on Bustop TV to reflect on the state of women’s preparedness ahead of the by-elections scheduled for March 26 this year.

The by-elections have been proclaimed to fill vacant seats in the National Assembly and local authorities and there are various members of Walpe’s women leadership networks (Walans) across the country who are billed to contest in the polls.

During the talk-show, Walans from Mufakose, Harare, and rural Zhombe in Kwekwe district bemoaned lack of resources, civic and voter education and minimal support that women are getting from their political parties during this phase.

Walpe notes with concern the large sums of money that women aspiring leaders are being asked to part with by their political parties in order to submit their applications to be considered as candidates.

Those, who want to contest as MPs, are being required to pay US$100 and US$50 for those who want to be councillors.

Considering the current economic challenges exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic, the fees are too hefty especially for women aspiring leaders most of whom are at the receiving end of poverty in Zimbabwe.

This has negatively impacted their participation in the electoral process to the extent of withdrawing from contesting in the by-elections.

Walpe has engaged some of the political parties that have imposed the hefty fees to put in place conditions that allow for the full participation of women candidates, including those that are economically disadvantaged.

Another television programme was broadcast on December 17, 2021 by Walpe in partnership with Women and Law in Southern Africa on the preparedness of women voters and candidates to participate in the 2023 elections.

Women aspiring leaders from Chinhoyi, Hurungwe, Goromonzi and Mutoko shared various strategies they are putting in place in their communities to gear up for the polls.

Some of the strategies include door-to-door voter education, mobilising first-time voters to register to vote and assisting fellow women to amplify their leadership campaigns. The programme was supported by the Netherlands embassy.

Walpe