Take up leadership roles, female legislators urged
THE leadership gap that exists between women and men in national governance must be addressed, the President of the Senate has said.
While addressing 50 new female legislators at the Parliament of Zimbabwe Women Parliamentary Caucus induction workshop in Mutare recently, Cde Marble Chinomona said women should take up leadership roles.
The four day workshop's objectives were familiarise the members of the roles and functions of parliament, to clarify the procedures for presentation of motions and rules and to conscientise members on the Parliamentary diplomacy to enhance professionalism.
According to the Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU) report of 2018, said Cde Chinomona, despite impressive improvements in the area of education and the workplace over 50 years , men continue to outnumber women in leadership especially in top positions. She said in order to curb the limited number of women in Parliament they should learn to uplift and vote for each other as well as depart from misconceptions about leadership which include gender stereotypes.
"A number of factors explaining this scenario include gender stereotypes notions that leadership is inherently for men and that leadership is infused with masculine traits of aggression, decisiveness, willingness to engage in conflict and power which should be urgently changed," she said.
To restrain from gender stereotyping, Cde Chinomona said the role of women legislators in Parliament was to ensure that all policies and laws are directed not only at protecting women's rights, but at promoting women representation at decision making level.
She encouraged women in Parliament to strengthen their leadership qualities since they have better leadership qualities than men.
“The leadership traits in you should be further reinvigorated and strengthened. In fact, studies have revealed that women have better leadership qualities than men.
"In 2012, Harvard Business Review research found that women leaders outranked male leaders in nearly every one of the 16 leadership competencies including taking initiatives and driving for results.
Hence women have potential and they can do it," said Cde Chinomona. The new female members of Parliament were also urged to create and nurture a good relationship with the media since the media is there to amplify their voices.
During the workshop, new Parliamentarians were enlightened on issues to do with discipline, etiquette rules, the constitution, dress code and decorum among others.