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| Lucy Chivasa |
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Matsongoni
Matsongoni
MASVINGO – A
prominent women’s rights lawyer has criticised government’s move to extend the life
of the proportional representation system beyond its 2023 end, saying the move
was an attempt to perpetuate female servitude in politics.
prominent women’s rights lawyer has criticised government’s move to extend the life
of the proportional representation system beyond its 2023 end, saying the move
was an attempt to perpetuate female servitude in politics.
In
her contributions during a discussion jointly organised by TellZim and the
Community Tolerance, Reconciliation and Development (Cotrad) Trust at Chevron
Hotel on Friday, March o6, Lucy Chivasa said the system was meant to make
female politicians forever grateful to the ‘benevolence’ of their male
counterparts.
her contributions during a discussion jointly organised by TellZim and the
Community Tolerance, Reconciliation and Development (Cotrad) Trust at Chevron
Hotel on Friday, March o6, Lucy Chivasa said the system was meant to make
female politicians forever grateful to the ‘benevolence’ of their male
counterparts.
The
discussion was also attended by the Co-Chairpersons of the now-defunct COPAC,
Paul Mangwana and Douglas Mwonzora.
discussion was also attended by the Co-Chairpersons of the now-defunct COPAC,
Paul Mangwana and Douglas Mwonzora.
COPAC
was the committee which spearheaded the constitution-making process during the
inclusive government which ran between 2009 and 2013.
was the committee which spearheaded the constitution-making process during the
inclusive government which ran between 2009 and 2013.
Section
124 of the constitution makes for a more gender-balanced parliament by
providing for the appointment of 60 non-constituency legislators drawn with
reference to the proportion of the total number of votes that a party gains in
each of the country’s 10 provinces.
124 of the constitution makes for a more gender-balanced parliament by
providing for the appointment of 60 non-constituency legislators drawn with
reference to the proportion of the total number of votes that a party gains in
each of the country’s 10 provinces.
The
provision is supposed to end in 2023 but government wants to extend the clause
through one of the at least 27 amendments it wants to effect onto the
constitution.
provision is supposed to end in 2023 but government wants to extend the clause
through one of the at least 27 amendments it wants to effect onto the
constitution.
Chivasa,
however, argued that on the surface, the provision seemed noble but was, in
actual fact, bad for women’s development in the field of politics.
however, argued that on the surface, the provision seemed noble but was, in
actual fact, bad for women’s development in the field of politics.
“We
are tired of being a charity case. We must compete on an equal footing and be
voted for; if we lose we lose. That would be the result. This whole idea of
saying that since there are 10 men, there should be 10 women should stop.
Rather give us a chance to be voted for in a fair manner.
are tired of being a charity case. We must compete on an equal footing and be
voted for; if we lose we lose. That would be the result. This whole idea of
saying that since there are 10 men, there should be 10 women should stop.
Rather give us a chance to be voted for in a fair manner.
“The
bill seeks to extend the women’s proportional representation system for more
years and that will be the single entry point for women to parliament. All
those women will be at the mercy of men who will abuse them saying, ‘if you
want us to include your name on the list, better do this and that for us’. What
we want is a level playing field where female politicians can compete on an
equal footing,” said Chivasa.
bill seeks to extend the women’s proportional representation system for more
years and that will be the single entry point for women to parliament. All
those women will be at the mercy of men who will abuse them saying, ‘if you
want us to include your name on the list, better do this and that for us’. What
we want is a level playing field where female politicians can compete on an
equal footing,” said Chivasa.
She
also attacked the whole idea of amending the constitution, which she said
needed to be defended not amended.
also attacked the whole idea of amending the constitution, which she said
needed to be defended not amended.
“Amending
the constitution is retrogressive. We are not moving forward but rather going
back to the Mugabe era where so much power was concentrated into the hands of
one man. It’s shocking that this time around, you want to make it even worse.
the constitution is retrogressive. We are not moving forward but rather going
back to the Mugabe era where so much power was concentrated into the hands of
one man. It’s shocking that this time around, you want to make it even worse.
“If
it’s not broken why fix it? There is no reason to amend the constitution when
we haven’t even implemented it to the fullest,” said Chivasa.
it’s not broken why fix it? There is no reason to amend the constitution when
we haven’t even implemented it to the fullest,” said Chivasa.
She
said she was also particularly worried by provisions of the bill that seek to dilute
the Human Rights Commission’s powers by giving some of the powers to a Public
Protector who will be appointed by the President.
said she was also particularly worried by provisions of the bill that seek to dilute
the Human Rights Commission’s powers by giving some of the powers to a Public
Protector who will be appointed by the President.
