National

Zimbabwe female candidates struggle to break ceiling

Published

3 years ago

July 31, 2021

BY NOKUTHABA DLAMINI

Thirty three year-old Nakai Shoko has lofty dreams to become a political leader to help uplift her community in Victoria Falls.

Shoko, a University of Zimbabwe political student, believes women need to be involved in politics to influence policies meant to promote equality and their participation in the economy.
The vibrant mobiliser and orator, however, is not encouraged by the political landscape because of a plethora of bottlenecks for aspiring female politicians.

Although Zimbabwe’s has in recent years enacted laws and introduced constitutional provisions to promote gender parity in governance systems, women still struggle to break the barriers.

Zimbabwe is a signatory to declarations that include the 2008 Sadc Protocol on Gender and Development, which calls for 50% female representation in decision-making positions by women by 2015.

The country’s 2004 National Gender Policy also calls for “redress the numerical gender imbalances in decision making and politics by increasing the numerical representation of women to 52 person.”

Shoko feels the legal instruments are yet to find expression in political parties to encourage women to campaign for positions.

“My ambitious dream began in 2013, but I’m still hesitant to join political parties as there is very little support for female politicians, even at local level,” she said.

“I have tried to join various political parties as just an ordinary youth, but whenever it is time for primary elections the squabbles begin and even our leaders refuse to listen to any woman, who tries to remind them of the political declarations whenever they want to grab power.

” I have so much passion for human rights issues and my wish is to make a difference in my home town.”

Shoko said she enrolled for a political science degree in 2019 to prepare for a career in leadership.
Her story resonates with that of Lenziwe Bhaudi from Binga North, who wants to contest in the ruling party’s primary elections for the 2023 parliamentary polls.

Bhaudi said even though, the declarations are a positive development which counter balances in the electoral system viewed by some as highly competitive and not friendly to women who have ambitions to become politicians , their practical implementation of them is far from being a reality.

“I have often witnessed some female politicians being beaten, victimised and at times burnt while sleeping in their homesteads just for challenging male candidates,especially in primary elections,” she said.

“My drive to join politics has been let down by the unwillingness of politicians and government to lobby for 50/50 participation of women despite multiple declarations promoting women and men in all spheres.

” As youths, we want to be able to speak up and represent the people even in rural areas, but that’s proving to be difficult because I tried in 2018 and l failed, and going for another trial when legal frameworks and declarations are not being implemented will slow my chances of giving it another try.”

In Zimbabwe, women make up 52.3 percent of the population but the political leadership of the country’s legislative bodies and local authorities is dominated by men.

Statistics from the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission (ZEC), show that 54 percent of the registered voters during the 2018 elections were women yet their participation in electoral and governance processes – where decisions regarding their lives are made – remains peripheral.

According to a 2018 study by Gender Links, a regional organisation promoting equal participation by women and men in all applications of private and public life, the Sadc and national declarations have been dwindling especially in Zimbabwe’s local government elections.

It says out of 6 800 candidates, who contested for seats in the country’s 92 local authorities, only 1 756 or 17 percent were female and overall results indicated that only 14 percent was won by women.

However, for political activist Mirriam Moyo from Hwange, strongly believes all is not lost for female politicians in Zimbabwe.

“The mindset change has to start from primary elections at ward level,” Moyo said.

“There is still a chance and we will push for that until everyone comes on board in the district regardless of political differences.

“Women are determined and what is lacking is the implementation of declarations and discipline.

“So there is still time to correct that and plans to begin the campaign are underway.”

Although the constitution requires all political parties to meet the constitutional provisions on gender parity and equal political opportunities, patriarchy remains widespread, and there seems to be a deliberate reluctance by political parties to appreciate the need for affirmative measures towards gender parity.

The very low percentage of women successfully nominated, or directly elected, is evidence that political parties tend to favour male candidates over females for local and constituency seats.

“It goes without saying that when the electoral environment is patriarchal and prejudiced, women are automatically marginalised and declarations put aside,” Moyo said.

In order to achieve significant representation of women, Gender Links recommends that Zimbabwe not only requires a gender sensitive legislative framework, but political will from those in power.

The composition of candidates for the 2018 elections indicates that political parties have largely ignored a commitment to gender balance.

Despite coming up with good policies, Zimbabwean political parties have failed to implement them, as they continue to allow other ‘political’ considerations to take precedence in the fielding of candidates.

Out of the 47 political parties that fielded candidates in the National Assembly, only 27 fielded at least one female candidate.

National

Zim hosts 7 000 children, regional delegates for World Children’s Day

Published

7 days ago

November 15, 2024

VicFallsLive

UNICEF

BY LEONARD NCUBE

Part of the over 7 000 children and delegates from across Southern Africa who are expected to attend the World Children’s Day celebrations in Victoria Falls tomorrow have started arriving in the resort city, which is already experiencing huge vehicular and human traffic.

The Chronicle, reports that, Zimbabwe, in partnership with Unicef, is hosting the children from seven SADC countries — Botswana, Malawi, Mozambique, Namibia, South Africa, Zambia and Zimbabwe, for the World Children’s Day.

The day is observed every November 20 but celebrations will be held tomorrow at Baobab Primary School so that the programme does not disturb learning and examination processes.

High ranking delegates from Namibia, and children from five of the countries had arrived yesterday, with the majority expected today and tomorrow.

Public Service, Labour and Social Welfare Minister July Moyo, his Permanent Secretary Mr Simon Masanga, Matabeleland North Provincial Affairs and Devolution Permanent Secretary Ms Sithandiwe Ncube plus officials from the Ministry of Primary and Secondary Education are already in Victoria Falls coordinating preparations for a successful event.

Proceedings will start this morning with a golf and chess tournament for children at Elephant Hills Golf Course and Mosi-oa-Tunya High School.

This will culminate in a prize-giving ceremony for winners of the two tournaments at a dinner to be hosted by the First Lady, Dr Auxillia Mnangagwa, this evening at Elephant Hills Resort.

According to update reports at the preparatory meeting chaired by Minister Moyo yesterday, the golf and chess tournaments will start this morning with junior golfers teeing off and those playing chess also taking part.
There will also be about 200 non-golfers who will also be taken to the golf course so they learn the sport.

The main event will take place tomorrow where President Mnangagwa is expected to be joined by his counterparts and their representatives from the six SADC countries that are part of the programme.

Proceedings will start with a road march by children between 7am and 9am ahead of the main programme.
After the proceedings and lunch, a total of 570 children will be taken for a tour of the Victoria Falls Rainforest, a Unesco designated World Heritage Site and one of the Natural Wonders of the World.

Transport, accommodation and feeding logistics for all the children have been arranged so that they enjoy their day.
Speaking at the meeting, Minister Moyo said he was impressed by the Whole of Government approach exhibited by various ministries and departments, in partnership with Unicef, which is co-hosting the event with Zimbabwe.

“We will assembly at the Elephant Hills where the First Lady and other delegates will participate at the children’s dinner. Some have started arriving so we will end the dinner early so that the children go and rest,” he said.

“On Saturday they will march from 7am so that they arrive at the venue by 9am. After the programme, 570 children are what we are going to cater for at the Rainforest.

“In the evening there will be a monumental lighting of the Flame of Hope on the ‘No Man’s Land’ on the Victoria Falls Bridge officiated by Vice-President General (Retired) Dr Costantino Chiwenga. That is the broad outline of the programme,” said Minister Moyo.

Matabeleland North will provide the bulk of the 7 470 children expected at the event.
According to the organising committee, 450 will come from the country’s nine provinces other than Matabeleland North who will provide 7 020. About 1 200 of these will come from the six Matabeleland North districts while 5 820 will come from Hwange District.

Of these Hwange children, 4 520 will arrive early tomorrow morning while 1 300 are coming today.
The children will be staying at Rest Camp and several schools that have been designated as villages for them.

The Environmental Management Agency has identified 60 volunteer litter pickers and still wants 40 more, the mop out litter during the course of the two days.

The venue is almost ready will tents set, chairs set and final touches being done.
If anything, Baobab Primary School, looking more like a mini-city because of the set-up, are the biggest beneficiaries of the programme considering the amount of rehabilitation work being done at the school.

Classroom and administration blocks have been repainted, landscaping done on the school grounds while a perimeter fence is being erected and a new gate opened.

A borehole is to be drilled at the school and Minister Moyo yesterday said the facility should be allowed to run a tuck-shop during the event so they benefit from hosting the crowds. There will also be various exhibitors at the event while a roadshow will also be done to publicise the event.

Unicef country director, Ms Etona Ekole, appreciated work done by the organising committee so far.
“Thank you for the organisation and dedication you have shown. We are impressed by the commitment and I think we are going to have incredible celebrations,” she said.

The 2024 Regional World Children’s Day commemorations will build on the Calls-for-Action of children and the commitments by the Heads of State made at the previous celebrations, which focused on education, climate, children with disability and the need for society to be inclusive and uphold children’s rights.

The children from the participating countries will present an updated call for action and hold their governments accountable for the commitments made to promoting children’s rights.

Every 20 November, the world celebrates World Children’s Day, which highlights the right to participation, which is one of the underpinning principles of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child (UNCRC).

Since 2021, four countries — Botswana, Namibia, Zambia and Zimbabwe — have come together to celebrate the Regional World Children’s Day jointly, and this year Zimbabwe hosts the programme building on the momentum created by the commemorations in Botswana in 2021, Zambia in 2022 and Namibia last year.

Malawi, Mozambique and South Africa have been invited to join the commemorations making seven attending countries.
SOURCE: THE CHRONICLE

National

ZESA struggles to meet demand as Hwange fault and Kariba dam water levels bite

Published

1 week ago

November 13, 2024

VicFallsLive

BY WANDILE TSHUMA

Zimbabwe Electricity Supply Authority, ZESA has announced that the national power grid is experiencing reduced electricity generation capacity due to a technical fault at Hwange Power Station and low water levels at Kariba Dam.

“ZESA Holdings would like to advise its valued stakeholders that the national power grid is currently experiencing reduced electricity generation capacity due to a technical fault at Hwange Power Station,”

“This has been further compounded by low generation capacity at Kariba Power Station, resulting from low water levels.

Our technical teams are actively working to resolve the fault at Hwange to minimize the impact on our customers.”

ZESA STATEMENT

Meanwhile, the Zambezi River Authority has sounded the alarm on the dire water levels at Kariba Dam, which has dropped to a critically low 2.40%.

This has left Zimbabwe and Zambia facing a precarious electricity supply situation.

As the power cuts continue, communities are feeling the brunt of the outages.

Businesses are struggling to operate, and residents are forced to go without electricity for extended periods. The situation has also affected water supply, communication, and healthcare services.

Other news organizations and research have highlighted the severity of the power crisis in Zimbabwe.

According to a report by the Zimbabwe Coalition on Debt and Development, the country’s energy sector is facing a myriad of challenges, including aging infrastructure, lack of investment, and a heavy reliance on imported electricity.

The report notes that the power cuts have had a devastating impact on the economy, with businesses losing millions of dollars in productivity and revenue.

The situation has also affected the livelihoods of ordinary Zimbabweans, who are struggling to access basic services like healthcare and education.

National

Stepdad accused of killing three months old daughter

Published

1 week ago

November 12, 2024

VicFallsLive

BY STAFF REPORTER

A Shurugwi stepfather has appeared in court facing allegations of poisoning to death his 3-month-old stepdaughter.

According to the National Prosecuting Authority, Tatenda Masunda (24) appeared before the Shurugwi Magistrates’ Court facing a murder charge.

The State alleges that on the 3rd of November, at around 5 AM, the accused stopped the infant’s mother from taking the baby with her to a nearby borehole where she intended to do the laundry.

He then retrieved a poisonous substance, commonly used in gold purification, which he had hidden in the yard, and fed it to the infant.

The accused later brought the visibly distressed and crying infant to the mother.

The mother rushed the infant to Zvamabande Hospital.

She was referred to Shurugwi District Hospital, where the baby was pronounced dead upon arrival.

The accused fled to Chegutu, where he was arrested on the following day.

He was remanded to the 21st of November
pending investigations.