Staff Reporter
Women in politics have bemoaned that they are not getting the financial and emotional support that they should be getting from their political parties, women’s organisations and fellow women in general.
Women in politics say they are facing numerous challenges ranging from resources, political violence patriarchy issues and they also say that some women still having problems in supporting fellow women.
They suggested that there is need for laws which protect women; they say the quota systems should be enforced in political parties.
In a series of interviews this week with women in politics who participated in the August 23 hamonised elections they said that they are not where they should be because they are being let down by different stakeholders.
A woman candidate who ran under the ZANU PF ticket for Ward 18 Dr Angelina Nyatanga and lost to CCC candidate Ian Makone, who is now the Mayor of Harare said women face a number of challenges which if not addressed may cause the number of women in politics to drop down further in the next election, as those who did not get support in the previous elections may not want to come back.
“Women are not getting support from fellow women and women’s organisations, we are having a talk show of emancipating and empowering women but on the ground it’s not really happening. Women’s organisations should approach women in politics and ask them of their budgets and help them strategies, so much that even if the candidate loses, they will be together and she will know that she’s not alone, but as it stands, we are alone,” she said.
The Harare deputy mayor councillor Kudzai Kadzombe who has been a councillor since 2018 said that the main challenges that she faced as a female candidate in the last harmonised elections, was the fact that Zimbabwe is still a patriarchy society, where women’s leadership skills are still being doubted.
She also said women face cyber bullying and financial challenges, she said for gender equality to exist there number of political actors who participating in elections should be equal for both men and women from party level to national policies.
“Most men, family members and the community members at large find it very difficult to have a female leader. Because they always assume that a man should do it. I was a councillor since 2018, but I still have residents who still call me Mr, so that’s a big challenge. But I think the major issue was the issue of resources. Men tend to have good networks of people that actually have resources as women, you actually have to go through a struggle and fundraise amongst family and friends, but business network is very rare for you to find women business owners who would actually go out and assist. The other issue has to do with violence and threats, as a woman you get people who see us as meek and weak human being so, it’s easy for people to just throw insults and threats to you. So violence is another aspect. Social media, bullying, cyber bullying people create a lot of fake stories about both female candidates, issues to do with corruption, issues to do with infidelity. You can even be attacked by the way that you dress, your hairstyle. So it’s just a lot of issues that women face as female candidates,” she said.
Cllr Kadzombe added that the changes should start happening at political party level where there should be gender equality of candidates’ selection. She highlighted that there is need to normalize women leadership as many do not think that women are competent enough to lead.
“I think as a nation, if we just respect our constitution, and follow what it says in terms of the 50/50 representation in all my political posts people will see women leadership as normal. Women should lead in their numbers because now we are just a few female leaders.
“2023 saw a reduction in elected councillors where only six councillors and fourteen councillors got into council through the women’s quota system, four from ZANU PF and 10 from CCC party. I think the change of mindset should start off at political party level, where they need to come up with policies to ensure that there is 50 seats for women and 50 seats for men, and not to have men encroach into the 50 percentage of the women. So if it starts at a political party level, you see will see that the chances to actually go for the main election will be much easier and better for the women,” said Cllr Kadzombe.
Other women candidates who participated in the August 23 harmonised elections commented on the condition of anonymity and said that women must rise up for each other and to rise up for action, not just to talk.
They said that supporting structures should be there for women in politics, which should sit down with them and financial support before and after elections.
“We thought we were trying together as women but still you will see that even in the next election, the number of women in politics is going to drop. The lack of support is making us realise that we have more to lose than anything.
It’s better if we lose as a party or with the support of stakeholders because I won’t be alone and it will encourage more women. With support women candidates will be assured that at least we tried together, there will be hope. Right now, genuinely speaking, support is not there,” said one woman.
Another women candidate who participated in the last election and lost said that she doubts if she will want to return to politics as they are exposed and have no supporting system. She said as women in politics they are wives and mothers at home and it’s not easy to be a politician.
“We have husbands who are not usually supportive as campaigning requires money hence one need to have a budget and if your husband is against women getting in politics it will really be difficult. But no one cares where the money comes from. That’s why other women end up doing all these other things because you are left with no choice.
“But at the end of the day, you destroy yourself at the same time. I no longer have that confidence. I asked myself, I went through this because I was under pressure. So now, second time again, can I really go for it? Knowing very well there are no supporting systems?” she questioned.
Other women in politics also said that some shy away from politics because the people they will be working with throughout the campaigning period will be seeing them as their breakthrough and they want money from them, money which they won’t have as a woman as they won’t have the backing of their political parties, stakeholders and families, they will be all alone.
They said without resources many women won’t survive in politics.