The Zimbabwe Election Support Network (ZESN) joins the rest of the world in commemorating International Women’s Day (IWD). The day is set aside to celebrate the social, economic, cultural and political achievements of women while calling for gender equality. This year the campaign is running under the theme #PressForProgress. In line with this year’s theme, ZESN calls upon women from all walks of life in Zimbabwe to fully participate in this year’s electoral processes namely the biometric voter registration and the general election as they also press for progress in governance and democracy as a way of ensuring that women’s issues are addressed on the national agenda.
To mark this year’s commemorations; ZESN National Director Mrs Rindai Chipfunde Vava called upon women to participate in their numbers as candidates and voters and press for progress on women’s issues in line with the theme of the year.
“Women constitute the majority of Zimbabwe’s population and indications are that they also constitute the majority of registered voters under the Biometric Voter Registration exercise thus it follows that women must have more representation in elected office and decision making,” added Mrs Rindai Chipfunde Vava.
As the country gears for the 2018 harmonised elections, ZESN calls for zero tolerance to political violence and for the government and political parties to act on the calls for non-violet campaigns for the creation of a conducive political environment that encourages women’s full participation in electoral processes. It is disheartening that women continue to be adversely affected by political violence in political parties and across the political divide.
ZESN strongly condemns all forms of violence particularly against women in politics.
ZESN is committed to the promotion of democratic elections in Zimbabwe and the full participation of women in electoral processes.
Source: Zimbabwe Election Support Network (ZESN)
