Bernard Mutambudzi.
Speaker of the National Assembly Advocate Jacob Mudenda has commended the role women parliamentarians are playing in changing the kind of debates by articulating real issues affecting their constituencies.
Speaking at the launch of Zimbabwe Women’s Parliamentary Caucus (ZWPC) photo book in Harare last week, Adv Mudenda said he was going to ensure the extension of the women’s quota beyond 2023.
The photo book is a brainchild of Women parliamentarians and it depicts in words and pictures, the achievements, challenges encountered by women politicians and their aspirations for the future.
“As your Speaker, I shall ensure that the constitutional provision for women’s proportional representation rolls over beyond 2023.”
Adv Mudenda said he will also try to persuade and influence different political parties to promote gender parity in line with the supreme law of the country.
“Furthermore, I shall endeavour to persuade political parties to provide for gender parity in their party constitutions so as to comply with the national Constitution’s demand for gender parity,” he said.
Adv Mudenda said the photo book which is based on some of the female Member’s of Parliament’s individual testimonies is extremely salutary in attesting to their self-actualization regarding their Parliamentary roles of representation, legislative and oversight.
Adv Mudenda said the proportional representation enriched the kind of parliamentary debates and had helped in mitigating gender stereotypes in politics which had become sort of tradition.
“In fact, an increase in the proportion of women elected under the proportional representation matrix has made a difference in the passage of legislation beneficial towards mitigating the negative attitudes against women participation in politics,” the Adv said.
Adv Mudenda said the ZWPC was instrumental in the debates that led to the promulgation of the of 2013 Constitution, which is highly rated globally for being gender sensitive.
It also played an integral role in the amendment of the Labour Act which now provides for maternity leave with full pay for women which other nations adopted long back.
ZWPC was also instrumental in passing the Domestic Violence Act, Education Act, Labour Act and Marriage Act which provides for gender parity in areas of education, marriage and maternity leave.
Information, Publicity and Broadcasting Services Minister Monica Mutsvangwa, who is a former ZWPC chairperson, urged the Ninth Parliament ZWPC to mentor young girls in various constituencies.
“I would urge the Ninth Parliament ZWPC to take up the issue and engage the young girls and move towards the promotion of politics as a career,” said Mutsvangwa.
Cde Mutsvangwa also said the Ninth Parliament should push for equal representation in Parliament.
“The 50/50 campaign is a campaign that is now at the core of the gender movement’s work which the Ninth Parliament should consider seriously to ensure equal representation in Parliament and all sectors at decision- making level,” She said.
The launch of the Eighth Parliament photo book is an initiative driven by the Research and Advocacy Unit and the Gender Media Connect to amplify the voices of women, feminist principles, media and research expertise.
The event was also attended by Swedish ambassador to Zimbabwe, Ms Mettle Sunnergeon.
