Women demand 50-50 share of political power

November 17, 2006 - (ZWNEWS) Harare - At least 50 Zimbabwean women demonstrated in Harare yesterday demanding a 50 percent share of the country’s political power.

The demonstration was organised by the Women in Politics Support Unit (WIPSU), a civic group that promotes the participation of women in issues of governance.

The demonstrators, who included three legislators from the main opposition Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) party, marched from Africa Unity Square in central Harare to the Harare Gardens wielding placards demanding an equal share of political power.

Some of the placards read: “The time for 50 percent women’s representation is NOW.” Addressing the protesters, Harare North legislator Trudy Stevenson said women should demand equal representation in all elections in future beginning with the upcoming urban council elections.

“We need 50-50 percent representation (with men) right now. We need to begin with the forthcoming council elections," she said.

Human rights groups say although women make up 52 percent of Zimbabwe’s 12 million population, they are not represented meaningfully in positions of governance. For example, out of the 10 provincial governors in Zimbabwe, only two were women.

In addition, only 22.2 percent of women are represented in political positions in the country.

“Fifty-two percent of the women’s population being represented by 22.2 percent in politics is not justifiable,” said Rutendo Hadebe, the director of Women in Politics Support Unit (Wipsu) and one of the organisers of the protest.

From: http://www.zwnews.com/issuefull.cfm?ArticleID=15517