ZIMBABWE has been ranked among the top six Sadc countries that have made significant strides towards achieving the 50:50 gender parity ratio in Parliament as envisaged in the Sadc Protocol on Gender and Development.
VENERANDA LANGA SENIOR PARLIAMENTARY REPORTER
Chairperson of the Parliament of Zimbabwe Women’s Caucus Monica Mutsvangwa yesterday applauded Zimbabwe’s Sadc achievement, saying it showed that some Sadc member states were serious about implementation of what was stipulated in the Sadc Protocol on Gender and Development.
“Sadc countries came up with the Sadc protocol and the achievements by the six countries shows seriousness in ensuring that there is gender parity in Parliament,” Mutsvangwa said.
“Only two Sadc countries — Botswana and Mauritius — have not yet ratified the Sadc Protocol on Gender and Development and other countries are seriously working on ensuring that women have influential positions in Parliament.”
She said Seychelles was leading the pack at 43,8%, followed by South Africa (41%); Mozambique (39,2%); Tanzania (36%); Zimbabwe (35%); and Angola (34%). Mutsvangwa, however, said all Sadc countries had missed the 2015 deadline.
“It is unfortunate that we have already failed to meet the 2015 deadline to achieve the 50:50 ratio, but it is important that we work post-2015 to ensure that what has to be done is implemented,” she said.
Sadc has also managed to get some women to become Speakers of Houses of Parliament.
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In Zimbabwe, Mashonaland West Senator Edna Madzongwe (Zanu PF) is Senate President, while another female, Mutoko North MP Mabel Memory Chinomona (Zanu PF) is Deputy Speaker of the National Assembly.
