In a Statement, the Women’s Coalition of Zimbabwe has called for the appointment of a woman as the second Vice-President of Zimbabwe following the resignation of Kembo Mohadi.
Other women’s entities like GWEN Trust, Women’s Academy for Leadership(WALPE), Institute of Women Social Workers, Sinethemba Women, Youth Development Trust etc have also voiced the same concern and urged President Mnangagwa to honor his commitment to gender equality in political spheres and otherwise.
Gender advocates in Zimbabwe have argued that with a female second Vice President, the sexual exploitation of women by people in higher positions as in former VP Mohadi’s case will be less.
Kembo Mohadi was reportedly ‘pushed out’ and forced to resign on Monday, 1 March following the leaking of his sexual Illicit affairs with subordinates on social media.
See below the press statement issued by the Women’s Coalition of Zimbabwe(WCoZ):
CALL FOR THE APPOINTMENT OF A WOMAN AS VICE PRESIDENT
The Women’s Coalition of Zimbabwe (WCoZ), a non-partisan national network of women’s rights organisations and activists striving for the rights of women and girls calls for the appointment of a woman as the Vice President of Zimbabwe to fill in the vacant post following the resignation of VP Kembo Mohadi on 1 March 2021.
Cognisant of this opportune time, we urge the President, His Excellency, E.D Mnangagwa to exercise his powers to appoint a female Vice President, in a manner that demonstrates his often stated commitment to equality in appointments and electoral representation. We further plead with the President of the Republic of Zimbabwe to rectify the constitutional gender imbalance which currently exists in the Presidium and which has threatened any gender equality gains that had been made in terms of parity in political representation.
Additionally, fully cognisant of both contemporary and historical factors that may weigh upon the Presidency at this point, the nation must reflect at the intrinsic and active participation of women in the political and governance processes that have built and continue to build Zimbabwe. We take this opportunity to remind the nation that women’s political participation at all levels is commensurate with that of men as a fundamental prerequisite for gender equality and genuine democracy.
Accordingly, sections 17, 56 and 80 of our Constitution place a duty on the State, whose power is exercised by the President, to promote parity in representation of women in all spheres of Zimbabwean society on the basis of equality with men. Additionally, Zimbabwe is a signatory to a number of international instruments that strive to ensure that women are represented at all levels and in all spheres of the society and these include the Protocol to the African Charter on Human and People’s Rights, SADC Protocol on Gender and Development and Convention on the Elimination of All forms of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW).
These instruments encourage State parties to take all appropriate measures to eliminate discrimination against women in the political and public life of the country and further echo the principle that women are equal partners with men at all levels of development and implementation of State policies and development programmes.
Without a doubt, the Pan-African obligation and commitments espoused in regional and international commitments call upon the Head of State, His Excellency, to promote and to protect women’s rights including women’s political representation as a fundamental prerequisite for gender equality and genuine democracy.
Investing in women’s representation directly in appointments has the potential to contribute to full and equitable participation of women in public life. Therefore, at this critical time, the responsiveness of the State to gender equality remains on the radar.
For More Information Contact: Women’s Coalition of Zimbabwe,
Evernice Munando (Chairperson)
Sally Ncube (National Coordinator)
31 Harvey Brown Ave., Milton Park,Harare,
Tel: +263 0242 701955/6
Cell: 0775 708657
Email: coalition@zol.co.zw
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