Source: AFP
As Zimbabwe prepares for its upcoming election, the participation of
women and youth is poised to play a pivotal role in shaping the nation's
democratic landscape. The election will be held on the 23rd of August, 2023 for
President and members of both houses of parliament. In recent years, there has
been a growing recognition of the importance of diverse voices in the political
process, and efforts are being made to amplify the contributions of women and
young people. This article highlights the significance of women and youth
participation in the upcoming Zimbabwean elections.
The
Dynamics of Politics in Zimbabwe
The Zimbabwe African
National Union–Patriotic Front (ZANU-PF) that was led by Robert Mugabe has
dominated Zimbabwean politics since independence in 1980. Emmerson Mnangagwa
became president in November 2017 after the military took charge and ousted Robert
Mugabe after 37 years in office. Mr. Mnangagwa had previously served as first
vice-president from 2014 until his dismissal on 6 November 2017. Two weeks
later, the ruling Zanu-PF party sacked Mr. Mugabe as leader and appointed Mr.
Mnangagwa as party president. Shortly after serving out Mugabe’s term in
office, he was narrowly re-elected as president in a July 2018 election. An
outcome which was questioned by his closest opponent, MDC Alliance candidate
Nelson Chamisa.
Women’s Political
Participation
The Zimbabwe Electoral
Commission has approved 11
candidates for this year’s presidential elections. This is sharply down
from the 23 who contested the last election, in 2018, no doubt because each
candidate now has to pay $20,000 (£16,000), up from $1,000 (£800). But the
contest is likely to be between two men: Incumbent Emmerson Mnangagwa,
from the governing Zanu-PF party and opposition leader Nelson Chamisa,
from the Citizen's Coalition for Change (CCC). Elizabeth Valerio of the United
Zimbabwe Alliance is the only female among the candidates. Strangely, she had been disqualified but
successfully challenged the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission's decision to reject
her nomination.
It is worthy to note
that, Zimbabwe, a deeply conservative country, has always recorded a lower
percentage of women participating as candidates in elections since independence
in 1980 compared with men, despite constituting more than half of the
electorate and of the total 15 million people in the country. Interestingly,
the country in 2013 passed and adopted a pro-gender equality constitution that
stipulated the reservation of 60 seats from the current 270 in parliament for
women. The law stipulates that the seats be distributed among parties by
proportional representation.
Despite the progressive laws that have been enacted, women are still not
adequately represented in parliament or local authorities. Following the 2018
general election, only 48 per cent of Senators were women and only 31 per cent
of Members of the National Assembly were women. In the March 26 parliamentary
by-elections, only 16 female candidates participated out of 118 candidates
vying for 28 seats in the National Assembly. The local government polls saw 76
female candidates contest against 291 males for 118 seats. Only five female
candidates won parliamentary seats while 18 made it to their respective
councils as opposed to 103 men.
Zimbabwe has done a great deal to enact laws encouraging women’s
participation in politics. Good laws are however not the gamechanger. There
is a need for reforms that tackle the deeply ingrained cultural and structural barriers
that hinder women's full political engagement As Zimbabwe moves forward, it
must aspire to create an environment where women can thrive as leaders and
contribute to shaping the nation's future.
Youth Participation
Young people in
Zimbabwe constitute 67.7% of the total population; their effective
participation in electoral and governance processes remains a cornerstone to
achieve sustainable inclusivity and enhanced civic engagement in politics. The youth in Zimbabwe are embracing their
role as catalysts for change in the upcoming election. A recent Afrobarometer
pre-election survey results has revealed a promising trend in Zimbabwe's
political landscape, particularly among the youth demographic. A substantial
portion of Zimbabwe's young population has taken an active interest in the
upcoming elections, with 65% of individuals aged 18-25 and 86% of those aged
26-35 registering to vote, showcasing their commitment to shaping the destiny
of their nation.
A significant stride
towards a more inclusive and representative democracy in Zimbabwe is the
establishment of a youth quota for the upcoming election. This progressive
move, as outlined in the constitution has resulted in the creation of 10
parliamentary seats reserved exclusively for youth aged between 21 and 35. This
should be accepted by young people as a victory for the youth mainstreaming
agenda. This provision serves as a pivotal entry point for young individuals,
ensuring their active participation in the 10th Parliament and making the
long-standing call for youth participation tangible reality.
As the country builds up
to the elections on August 23rd there is an opportunity for young people to
break barriers by voting for young candidates whom they can hold accountable.
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