Tinaani Nyabereka
Zvishavane- As the call for women to take up leadership positions in political circles intensifies, two women in Zvishavane have expressed their interest to join the electoral race in the upcoming 2023 elections.
Speaking to TellZim News Zvishavane Ward 9 resident and aspiring candidate, Margret Musengi said capacitation about her rights as a woman has motivated her to aspire for councillorship.
She added that as a woman, she was confident that if men could rule, rather women could rule better as they understand challenges affecting the communities better than anyone else.
“I am happy because I was well capacitated as a gender champion to know that as a woman I have rights which include standing for positions in any political party of my choice.
“The right even entitles me to choose to contest as a leader at any level. Such knowledge has motivated me to wish to aspire for a position as a ward councillor next year.
“Being chosen as a councillor or MP is not meant for me to do what I want, rather it demands that I represent the people of my ward, constituency so that my community, province and country becomes a better home for all,” said Musengi.
She added that, having worked with her councillor who was also a woman she was going to look up to her for support and advice.
“I have learnt a lot from my sitting councillor and she has set a good precedence of governance. My interests are not meant to down throw her but rather working together with her and thus taking over from where she would have left going forward.
“Challenges in the community we live are still many like where I stay, we still face water supply shortages. Also network remains a challenge and we hardly communicate due to poor telephone network hence we end up receiving late messages. So our community which covers areas such as Niro needs a network upgrade. We also need electricity as most households don’t have electricity, so I will also strive to have these issues resolved.
“We also need good roads. I therefore urge women to be supportive as always so that fellow women get involved in development of local areas,” she added.
Another aspiring candidate, Stella Mugare of ward 6 said she wants development to take centre stage in communities.
“I have expressed my interests because I want development to be realized. The ward I come from is good and my councillor has been good as we don’t have any challenges.
“One thing I like about my councillor is that he has been encouraging us women in our ward to use the opportunities we have to assume leadership. He is very supportive and as I have shown my interest I will seek his support and advice on how best to I can lead people.
“It requires one to have a heart for the people first before one looks at his or her needs. If I get a position, I won’t feast but will return to the people. Development is by the people for the people,” she said.
Next year Zimbabwe heads for harmonized elections in most probably in August with new office bearers expected to be voted into office starting from local authority, parliamentary up to the Presidium.
Since the adoption of a new constitution in 2013, Zimbabwe has had a legislated quota of 60 seats distributed among parties on a Proportional Representation basis at the national level for women, in addition to the 210 seats open to women and men.
Although Article 17 of the Constitution provides for equal representation of women and men in all areas of decision-making, local government is not included in the constitutional quota.
This has seen women of late demanding the quota system to be implemented at council level to help increase their participation in local governance.
