Local gender and elections experts in Zimbabwe to discuss 50-50 representation
A local team of gender and elections experts are in Zimbabwe to share possible options on how to boost women’s electoral performance in the 2023 elections.
Namibia alongside other experts from Mauritius, Lesotho and South Africa are in Zimbabwe for the session at the invitation of the country’s Gender Commission.
The gender and elections experts will share lessons learnt from the implementation of the different electoral systems and how they work in their countries.
“This is a ground breaking initiative that needs to be multiplied many times over,” noted the CEO of Gender Links that organised the mission with support from the African Women’s Development Fund, HIVOS and UN Women.
“SADC has every possible permutation of electoral system and quotas to show what works. The answer are in our hands,” the CEO added.
The SADC Protocol on Gender and Development encourages member states to ensure equal and effective representation by women in decision-making in the political, public and private sectors, including the use of special measures.
Meanwhile, the meeting seeks to come up with a clear strategy for lobbying and advocacy to increase women’s political representation and participation at both the local and national level.
