…to embark on educational roadshows
SHANNISE DZOBO
MASVINGO – Women in Zimbabwe face several barriers to take part in politics which range from social, cultural, economic, gender-based violence and discrimination hence they end up being spectators during election time.
Community Tolerance Reconciliation and Development (COTRAD) has said the lack of women and youth participation in politics in Masvingo Province especially the main political parties, Zanu PF and Coalition for Citizens Change is worrisome yet they constitute the majority.
Zivanai Muzorodzi, COTRAD director told The Midweek Watch that there is very low participation of women, youths and people living with disabilities in all political parties that intend to participate in the upcoming 2023 general elections.
“All the political parties in Masvingo that are going to participate in the upcoming general elections have restrictive party constitutions and election templates that are exclusive in nature where women, youth and people with disabilities have a very low participation”, said Muzorodzi.
“Youth and women lack information about elections especially the right to contest and to be voted for and they think it’s a preserve for the elder men in the community.
“The patriarchal nature of our society also is the main root cause of low women and youth participation in elections because participation is seen as the game of elders particularly men hence, masculinity play a bigger role in all these challenges”.
Muzorodzi went on to reiterate the fact that youth and women often lack resources to campaign hence they are portrayed as dangerous elements, as the workforce of the community and the foot soldiers of politicians during election time and women are seen as sex objectives who are supposed to fulfil their triple role of child bearing and rearing, production in house work and community as a result there is a constitutional literacy gap especially in rural areas.
COTRAD is conducting support programs for youth and women in governance, gender based budgeting, leadership skills and trainings on the electoral cycle as a solution to curb the constitutional illiteracy gap.
“There is need for extensive voter and political education therefore COTRAD is going to conduct voter education using musical shows, drama and theatre, ball game, gorilla theatre at growth points, irrigation schemes and mining communities.
“We are also going to conduct constitutional awareness so that youth and women know their political and electoral rights”, said Muzorodzi.
