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Hwange Bureau
Women in Hwange have been encouraged to participate in the upcoming by-elections as well as the 2023 plebiscite without fear as voting is every citizen’s right guaranteed by the country’s supreme law.
Speaking during a community awareness meeting held at Chief Nelukoba homestead on women peace and security in Mabale, Women Coalition of Zimbabwe (WCOZ) Hwange chapter, Chairperson Catherine Madondo said women should not be afraid to participate in politics.
“The voices of the women should be heard despite the geographical, cultural and economic conditions one is facing. When women speak they should not fear.
“They need to know that participating in politics also means voting. The women also need to know that your vote is your right and is also your secret,” she said.
Gloria Shoko, one of the village heads in Mabale’s Ward 17 indicated that the reason why most women shy away from politics is fear and this mostly affects most women in rural areas.
“They fear participating in politics or partaking in decision making within the society because they don’t know the benefits of being in politics.
“Most of us are not aware of the benefits of becoming a Member of Parliament to the community. Information by those in power is not well distributed to us who are in the villages, therefore at the end of the day women lose interest to participate,”she said.
Linda Mthombeni, a legal practitioner, who is also a member of WCOZ under the legal cluster said there are numerous reasons which influence women not to participate in politics that include violence and harassment.
“The issues relate to violent attitudes, behaviours and context (norms, systems, structures and policies) that make it insecure and unsafe for women and girls to freely participate in the political, economic, social and religious life of their community and society,” she said.
She said in times of peace and conflict, protection of women and girls from sexual, political, economic, religious, social/cultural gender-based violence in the public and private spheres is compromised.
She said despite all these factors women and girls should not fear participating in political matters, assuring them of protection.
“In many occasions the legal, social, economic, health, political, community and environmental security of women and girls is compromised, that is why we want to assure women of their protection,” she said.
WCOZ is an organisation which represents women’s rights organisations and individual activists. Currently the organisation has 12 chapters all over the country, with the common goal of protecting women and educating them to be conscious of their rights. Indaba
