Beverly Bizeki
According to the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission (ZEC) results released recently, out of the 26 constituencies in Masvingo Province, only two women made it to parliament through the ballot.
The two are both Zanu PF and from Mwenezi District where Priscilla Zindari Moyo retained Mwenezi West and Sheillah Chikomo won in the newly created Mwenezi East Constituency.
Chikomo garnered 17 234 against Citizens Coalition for Change (CCC)’s Martin Taruona who got 1 910.
In Mwenezi West, Moyo got 14 391 defeating Brilliant Chifumuro of CCC who garnered 1 054 and Tafadzwa Shumba Dhererai who contested as independent and got 6 495 votes.
Out of 59 candidates who contested for parliamentary seats, only four women contested in the elections.
The other two are Magret Mutswunguma and Fungai Chamisa. Mutswunguma contested in Chivi North on United Zimbabwe Alliance (UZA) ticket and lost to Godfrey Mukungunugwa of Zanu PF.
Chamisa contested in Chiredzi North on a CCC ticket and garnered 2 584 but lost to Roy Bhila who got 18 696 votes.
In 2018, there were only three women parliamentarians namely Berita Chikwama from Gutu East, Yeukai Simbanegavi in Gutu North and Moyo in Mwenezi West were elected.
