Ashley Maponga, Communications and Gender Justice Practitioner
By Ashley Maponga
Zimbabwe’s demographic landscape is characterized by a significant proportion of women, who make up over half of the population. Paradoxically, their voices and perspectives are underrepresented in crucial decision-making spaces. Although strides have been taken to promote gender equity in specific sectors, the persistent gap in women’s meaningful participation in policy making processes not only compromises democratic principles but also hampers the attainment of broader development objectives.
A closer examination of Zimbabwe’s legislative landscape reveals a stark disparity in women’s representation. Despite the constitutional quota system, women hold only 22 percent of seats in the National Assembly and 44 percent in the Senate. Moreover, this representation often remains superficial, with women’s participation in decision-making processes frequently limited to tokenistic inclusion. Rather than being recognized as vital contributors with unique perspectives and experiences, women are often brought into discussions as a formality, undermining their potential to shape the content and direction of national policies.
The exclusion of women from policy-making processes results in policies that often overlook and fail to address the deeply entrenched structural gender inequalities that women face. These inequalities span various aspects of life, including but not limited to, access to land, finance, social protection, and opportunities for political participation. Consequently, policies developed without the input and perspectives of women may inadvertently perpetuate existing gender disparities, hindering progress toward gender equality and sustainable development.
Many women’s groups and community-based organizations have expressed concerns about the limited extent to which duty bearers consult with them, especially on critical issues that have a direct impact on women’s lives. These issues include reproductive health, education, gender-based violence and economic empowerment, among others. The lack of meaningful consultation can result in policies and programs that fail to address the unique needs and challenges faced by women, ultimately undermining their rights and well-being.
Zimbabwe can draw inspiration from existing frameworks that promote women’s participation in decision-making. The Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action, which Zimbabwe endorsed in 1995, emphasizes the importance of women’s full participation in power structures and decision-making. As stated in the Declaration, ‘Women’s equal participation in decision-making is not only a demand for simple justice or democracy but can also be seen as a necessary condition for women’s interests to be taken into account.’ (Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action, 1995).
Similarly, the African Charter on Democracy, Elections and Governance (ACDEG) promotes gender parity in public institutions and political representation. Article 8 of the Charter states that ‘State Parties shall ensure that women have equal opportunities to participate in public and political life and shall take all necessary measures to eliminate all forms of discrimination against women.’ (African Charter on Democracy, Elections and Governance, 2007).
These frameworks provide a foundation for Zimbabwe to strengthen women’s participation in decision-making and promote gender equality.
Zimbabwe’s development aspirations, as outlined in Vision 2030 and the National Development Strategy 1 (NDS1), emphasize the creation of an inclusive society where all citizens can thrive. Nevertheless, the realization of these goals hinges on the deliberate inclusion of women’s perspectives and experiences in the decision-making process.
At the continental level, Agenda 2063, the African Union’s strategic framework, provides a complementary vision of a future where women are equal participants in political and public life. By aligning with these frameworks and prioritizing women’s empowerment, Zimbabwe can make meaningful strides toward achieving its development objectives and promoting gender equality.
For Zimbabwe’s development blueprints to be effective, they must be informed by and responsive to the realities faced by the most marginalized groups, including rural women, young women, and women with disabilities. These groups are often overlooked and excluded from meaningful participation in policy discussions, resulting in policies that fail to address their unique needs and challenges. By prioritizing the inclusion and empowerment of these women, Zimbabwe can create more equitable and effective policies that benefit all citizens.
The Women’s Democracy Network Zimbabwe (WDN-ZW) firmly believes that inclusion is not a gesture of charity, but a necessity. When women are meaningfully involved in policymaking, policies become more responsive, equitable and sustainable. True inclusion goes beyond mere numbers and tokenistic representation, it requires genuine influence, voice and shared power.
As Zimbabwe charts its development trajectory, we urge government ministries, Parliament, political parties, and civil society to prioritize the creation of inclusive spaces that facilitate genuine and systematic engagement of women in policymaking processes.
This entails not only providing opportunities for women’s participation but also actively supporting and amplifying their voices. Furthermore, we call on women from diverse sectors and backgrounds to organize, speak out and assert their rightful place in shaping Zimbabwe’s future. By working together, we can ensure that women’s perspectives and experiences inform decision making and contribute to a more equitable and prosperous society.
The time for inclusion is not tomorrow, it’s now. We cannot afford to wait, the future of Zimbabwe depends on our collective action today.