Khupe's MDC-T Calls On Women To Vote For Women Candidates To Ensure Gender Parity

Thokozani Khupe’s MDC-T has applauded President Emmerson Mnangagwa for his cabinet picks. However, the party noted the low numbers of women in the cabinet and in parliament and called on women to vote for women candidates in future elections in order to ensure gender parity. In a statement, Linda Masarira, the national spokesperson for the party said,

As part of our patriotism trajectory, we don’t look at Zimbabweans through political party lenses, tribal or racial lenses and we applaud President ED Mnangagwa for looking at Zimbabweans in their totality and diversity without discrimination. It would have been desirable to achieve gender parity, we take note that there are six women in the cabinet though it would have been desirable to have ten women. Considering the fact that we have very low numbers of women in Parliament this year, we take it as work in progress to achieve gender balance…It is also critical to note that the low numbers of women in Parliament are as a result of constitutional violations of section 17 and 56 of the constitution in political parties were gender equality issues are not taken seriously. We need stricter laws to deal with anyone who willingly violates the constitution of Zimbabwe. Women should know how important it is to vote for women candidates in our quest to achieve gender equality and to advance women issues at legislative level.