…‘gender parity
impossible without political will’
impossible without political will’
Felix
Matasva
Matasva
MUTARE
– Police brutality against women witnessed during the recent Hope of the Nation
address by Nelson Chamisa in Harare represents the many threats that discourage
female participation in political activities, MDC secretary for election Jacob
Mafume has said.
– Police brutality against women witnessed during the recent Hope of the Nation
address by Nelson Chamisa in Harare represents the many threats that discourage
female participation in political activities, MDC secretary for election Jacob
Mafume has said.
Speaking during the 2019
National Gender Forum last week, Mafume said the brutality also hindered attainment
of the envisaged 50:50 gender representation in political circles by 2023.
National Gender Forum last week, Mafume said the brutality also hindered attainment
of the envisaged 50:50 gender representation in political circles by 2023.
The 3rd annual National
Gender Forum ran under the theme, ‘Consolidating the Strategies: Laying out the
Roadmap for Getting to 50:50 by 2023’.
Gender Forum ran under the theme, ‘Consolidating the Strategies: Laying out the
Roadmap for Getting to 50:50 by 2023’.
A number of videos of
police brutality went viral on social media, showing riot gear armed police
indiscriminately beating men and women in Nelson Mandela St in Central Harare.
police brutality went viral on social media, showing riot gear armed police
indiscriminately beating men and women in Nelson Mandela St in Central Harare.
Initially the address
was scheduled for Africa Unity Square but police denied the MDC permission to
go there claiming that people were likely to abuse the event to stage
demonstrations against the worsening economic outlook.
was scheduled for Africa Unity Square but police denied the MDC permission to
go there claiming that people were likely to abuse the event to stage
demonstrations against the worsening economic outlook.
The party then decided
to hold the address at their headquarters in Nelson Mandela Avenue, but police
broke the gathering apart by savaging all and sundry.
to hold the address at their headquarters in Nelson Mandela Avenue, but police
broke the gathering apart by savaging all and sundry.
Mafume said that
political environment should be part of the discussions so that the nation will
see the full realisation of 50:50 gender representation.
political environment should be part of the discussions so that the nation will
see the full realisation of 50:50 gender representation.
“There were images
primarily of women being beaten by the police at our Presidential Hope of the
Nation Address. The political environment in which women are brutalised and
injured discourages them from participating in political activities. It makes
the playfield unfair and toxic, not
forgetting the defamation of women’s character and assassinations,” said
Mafume.
primarily of women being beaten by the police at our Presidential Hope of the
Nation Address. The political environment in which women are brutalised and
injured discourages them from participating in political activities. It makes
the playfield unfair and toxic, not
forgetting the defamation of women’s character and assassinations,” said
Mafume.
He said the National
Gender Forum should draw recommendations for the Gender Commission on how to
effectively deal with perpetrators of violence against women in politics.
Gender Forum should draw recommendations for the Gender Commission on how to
effectively deal with perpetrators of violence against women in politics.
“Political parties
cannot work on this alone without enabling legislation or recommendations for
the Gender Commission on how to detoxify our operating political environment.
cannot work on this alone without enabling legislation or recommendations for
the Gender Commission on how to detoxify our operating political environment.
“As we discuss the
technical mathematical gender representation, we should look at the political
environment and how harmful it is especially for young women. As a party, we
will work towards the creation of an enabling environment that severely punishes
people who commit gender-based violence against women in politics,” Mafume
said.
technical mathematical gender representation, we should look at the political
environment and how harmful it is especially for young women. As a party, we
will work towards the creation of an enabling environment that severely punishes
people who commit gender-based violence against women in politics,” Mafume
said.
Mafume told TellZim
News that the political environment in Zimbabwe was gender insensitive, with ‘sadistic
men masquerading as policemen brutalising defenseless women with pleasure’.
News that the political environment in Zimbabwe was gender insensitive, with ‘sadistic
men masquerading as policemen brutalising defenseless women with pleasure’.
“Our society has
no moral values and it is uncultured. Violence is ingrained in the DNA of
institutions that are supposed to protect citizens. They target the most
vulnerable including old women and men.
no moral values and it is uncultured. Violence is ingrained in the DNA of
institutions that are supposed to protect citizens. They target the most
vulnerable including old women and men.
“We will never be
blessed as a nation, no wonder why nature is visiting us with all sorts of
droughts and disasters. It’s because our country no longer have respect of all
things that are taboo. Even the worst of criminals are not brutalised when they
are being arrested or taken to court so why political congregants?” queried
Mafume.
blessed as a nation, no wonder why nature is visiting us with all sorts of
droughts and disasters. It’s because our country no longer have respect of all
things that are taboo. Even the worst of criminals are not brutalised when they
are being arrested or taken to court so why political congregants?” queried
Mafume.
Mafume said that there
was a constitutional crisis since there is no gender equality in institutions
of the country.
was a constitutional crisis since there is no gender equality in institutions
of the country.
“The constitution
is very clear that gender equality should be 50:50 yet most of the institutions
are not adhering to it including the executive. Even the naming of our roads is
not gender responsive. They are naming roads after dead man from as far as
Russia yet they cannot consider names of great women from Zimbabwe.
is very clear that gender equality should be 50:50 yet most of the institutions
are not adhering to it including the executive. Even the naming of our roads is
not gender responsive. They are naming roads after dead man from as far as
Russia yet they cannot consider names of great women from Zimbabwe.
“We are in
male-dominated society and it’s terrible that we do not acknowledge the
contribution of great women who died and who are still alive. We must uplift
women and get to 50:50 in the shortest possible time in order to be in full
compliance with the constitution,” Mafume said.
male-dominated society and it’s terrible that we do not acknowledge the
contribution of great women who died and who are still alive. We must uplift
women and get to 50:50 in the shortest possible time in order to be in full
compliance with the constitution,” Mafume said.
