SHANNISE DZOBO
CHIREDZI – Zimbabwe Center for Communication and Public Opinion Survey Trust (ZCCRPOST) has embarked on a program to tackle access to information for the marginalized communities in Chiredzi.
The program is meant to address the issue of lack of access to credible information and reliable sources of information by the marginalized community groups in Chiredzi.
Dr Last Alfadika, the director of ZCCRPOST told The Midweek Watch that the dialogue was mainly gather the groups’ concerns during and post election period.
“This dialogue engaged these groups to express their concerns in light with the elections period and their relevance in the community as well as the empowerment of communities,” said Dr Alfandika.
“Also, we engaged these communities to find out if they are aware of the candidates from different political parties in their respective wards and if they have access to information so that they make informed decisions when they vote,” said Dr Alfandika.
Constance Chikumbo a representative from United Chiredzi Residents and Ratepayers Association (UCHIRA) noted that there were no women candidates for both local governance and parliamentary posts in Chiredzi Central making it hard for women’s voices to be heard and be able to articulate their concerns to the authorities.
“There are no women participating in both local governance and parliamentary posts in Chiredzi Central from all the political parties making it hard for women to have fair representation in the political arena”, said Chikumbo.
“There is a lot of name calling and shamming for women who may decide to stand for political positions and a lot of discouragement from their male counterparts and it is very rampant across all political parties,”.
Bernadette Chipembere a representative from Women and Girls Matters also reiterated that women political representation in these and other elections are affected by too much reliance on political parties which are male dominated in nature therefore there will never be enough or fair representation from marginalised communities.
“Women political representation in this and other elections are affected by too much relying on political parties which are male dominated in nature therefore there will never be enough or fair representation from marginalised communities,” said Chipembere.
“The women’s quota system which has been meant to help women is actually a disadvantage to women, its actually deplorable and does not empower women, instead there should just be a percentage in both local governance and house of assembly seat where they are able to compete against each other”.
Susan Machingura a representative from the PWDs also added that they are treated as if they do not exist in this political arena hence there is less or no representation from anyone from their community.
“It’s very hard for us as a community to get representation in the local governance and the house of assembly and that is very disturbing to note that we get represented by someone who does not even know what we go through in our day to day lives let alone what we need to get empowered because we are always sidelined and get nothing on empowerment projects”, said Machingura.
