Women urged to invade political space

ZANU-PF female constituents in Dangamvura-Chikanga and Mutasa South constituencies have been urged to invade the political space by actively participating and taking up positions while mobilizing voters.

Speaking at the party’s Dangamvura-Chikanga campaign launch on Saturday, Zanu-PF Provincial Chairman and legislator for Mutare North, Cde Mike Madiro said women should take up political space and not wait for men to represent them in all spheres.

The launch was held at Mutare Hall in the city centre, Beit Hall in Sakubva and Murahwa Primary School in Chikanga.

He said women should emulate the few women that have succeeded in politics.

“While we do not have problems with Cde Esau Mupfumi and Cde Misheck Mugadza who will be contesting during the by-elections in Manicaland soon, there seems to be no female presence in this race even from the start, otherwise we would have heard that such and such female candidate tried her luck for that spot and lost or won,” he said.

“The problem we are facing is that women are not coming forward to participate. They need to be educated on the importance of being in decision making positions,” said Cde Madiro.

He further urged the women to vote in favour of the two candidates in their respective constituencies, citing that they are the majority.

“The voters’ roll states that there are 31 000 registered voters in Mutasa South, with 19 000 being in the urban part of the constituency while the remaining 12 000 are in the rural part. The majority of these people are urban women. And in 2018, the party lost as it was only short of 2 000 votes to win. MDC Alliance had 14 000 while we had 12 000 votes.

“There is need to maintain those 12 000 votes and mobilize at least 3 000 more votes so that we take the seat back. I am leaving this mobilization duty to women who are the party’s reliable foot soldiers,” said Cde Madiro.

During the Presidential elections in 2018, the Dangamvura-Chikanga constituency had 67 000 registered voters, of which only 13 percent voted for Zanu-PF while 47 percent voted for MDC Alliance.

Cde Madiro said he is confident that this time around, the seat will be won by the revolutionary party.

On March 26, Cde Mupfumi will battle it out with five other candidates, including musician Hosiah Chipanga, for the Dangamvura-Chikanga parliamentary seat.

Cde Mugadza will also compete with Citizens Coalition for Change’s Regai Tsunga on the same day.

Gracing the same event to launch campaign, Zanu PF’s Women’s League Secretary for Administration, Cde Monica Mutsvangwa urged women to take advantage of the new dispensation and the various developments that came with it.

“Through the able leadership of our President, His Excellency, President Emmerson

Dambudzo Mnangagwa, there has been visible developments most of which benefit women to a greater extent. The new dispensation has brought forth new economic developments that we would not have dreamed of before, including removing the rural-urban divide in the country.

“We need you as women to go out there as you campaign for your candidates, and tell other women about these developments if they have not noticed them as yet,” she said.

Senator Mutsvangwa also challenged women to take up decision-making positions in their respective areas.