what are the prospects of adequate representation of women in Zimbabwes new government?
Theresa Mugadza: The composition of women in JOMIC is actually 25 percent female representation, a far cry from the Southern Africa Development Community (SADC) Gender Protocol and African Union (AU) guidelines which outline that there must be 50-50 representation by 2010. Given this, I don’t have confidence that we will see more women being represented in the new government. IPS: What is the argument here: is it having women in decision-making positions for the sake of it? TM: The argument is that we want to see more women of substance in positions of authority, not to make up numbers. We have many competent women who can deliver more than males who have failed over time. We feel it’s time that women are given a chance. There are several examples of women who have distinguished themselves in corporate environments and can do the same in politics. There are many examples in the region such as South Africa’s Foreign Affairs Minister Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma who has distinguished herself i
