Abstract:
Abstract
Despite the Zimbabwean government‟s ratification of various regional and
international conventions on gender equality, female participation and representation in the
country‟s politics is still limited. This paper examines women‟s participation and
representation in the election process in Rwanda and Zimbabwe, with the goal of identifying
best practices that could promote women‟s political representation and participation in the
latter. The study is a documentary review of information considered relevant to its aims.
Southern African Development Community (SADC) member states were mandated to ensure
that women had 50% political representation by 2015; however, Zimbabwean women have
not attained this level of representation in the parliament, senate, cabinet and decision
making posts in political parties. This can be attributed to structural, institutional and
individual barriers. In contrast, Rwanda has over 50% women in its parliament and other
decision-making posts; hence the need to learn from Rwanda in terms of its wide-ranging
and sustained campaign for women and its strong gender equality political agenda.
