The Women’s Learning Forum on Monday held discussions on Electoral Processes in Zimbabwe with the title “Her Experience: Enhancing Women’s Participation in Electoral Processes in Zimbabwe”.
The meeting, which was attended by the ARC Clinic, Women’s Coalition of Zimbabwe, Gender Commission, Tag a Life International, Identities Media etc aimed to address women’s participation in electoral processes which has been hampered by a number of factors including the patriarchal nature of Zimbabwean society, lack of supportive policies in political parties, lack of political funding to participate on equal terms, intra-political violence, patriarchal systems, inter-party violence as well as the lack of the political will to implement existing policies among other things.
The platform therefore presented a safe space for women to share their political experiences and observations of women. Speaking at the meeting, the executive director of the Gender Commission, Mrs Virginia Muwanigwa said women have been deeply affected during electoral processes and there is need for basic respect of principles and violent-free elections that protect the interests of women.
Rita Nyamupinga emphasized the need for provisions that allow everyone to vote to be put in place. “Women should be allowed to vote even when incarcerated, in hospital or tied up due to unforeseen circumstances”, she said.
Issues of transparency, trust, the need for election observers and uniformed forces to protect women are some of the topics that were discussed at length.
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