By Nyasha Dube
FEMALE politicians across the political divide, including a former minister and war veteran Nyasha Chikwinya, say hurdles standing in their way transcend age and political party affiliation.
Besides binary politics which dominates the Zimbabwean political landscape and affects women’s political participation in the country, ageism is another cancer that threatens women in politics.
Whilst women from the youthful Citizens Coalition for Change (CCC) feel discriminated because of their age and affiliation, and seem to be under the illusion that female politicians from the ruling party enjoy certain privileges, women in ZANU PF say they are not spared from the barriers and challenges that date back to their time in the liberation struggle.
Addressing female journalists at a Gender Media Conference held in Harare recently, former Women Affairs, Gender and Development minister, Nyasha Chikwinya, nicknamed “Dolly Parton” in political circles, said navigating the political terrain has not been easy.
“From the time when I was a young girl, there were a lot of intersectional factors that led to my dreams being delayed or shattered. At one time I was turned down from an opportunity not only because of being a woman but also being a black woman because by that time there was a lot of racism. That’s when I decided to join the armed struggle to fight this system that was discriminating against black women,” said Chikwinya.
She added that although it was not easy being a female and fighting for the country, her fight was to change the plight of women.
“A lot of things happened during the war but the fact that I got back, pursued my education and political career is a success story to me. We then joined the new government, together with Joyce Mujuru. She was a minister and wanted me to be her secretary. We really struggled to navigate the journey until we were able to stand on our feet and excel in our political careers,” Chikwinya said.
Chikwinya joined the House of Assembly as Harare North Member of Parliament in 1995, and lost her seat in 2000. She attempted to regain her seat in 2005 with no luck, and remained head of Zanu PF’s women’s league.
In 2013, Chikwinya became the Member of Parliament for Mutare South, but later on made allegations of sexual harassment, violence and discrimination against women during primary elections.
Chikwinya was appointed Minister of Women Affairs, Gender and Development in 2015 as part of the famous cabinet reshuffle by the late President Robert Mugabe. In the 2023 elections she contested for the National Assembly Women’s Quota.
Throughout this journey, Chikwinya’s takeaway is the importance of confidence.
“Even when you do not know where you are going profile yourself and be confident in your capabilities despite the challenges you are facing,” Chikwinya said.
Chikwinya’s turbulent journey is no different from what other women in politics face, regardless of their age and political affiliation.
For recently elected Harare City Council Deputy Mayor and CCC councillor Kudzai Kadzombe, the journey hasn’t been easier either.
Kadzombe is the first female to be elected deputy Mayor of the capital’s local authority, a move which was deemed affirmative to the women’s rights movement.
She also climbed the corporate ladder before venturing into politics.
“As female politicians we face challenges like harassment and intimidation by our male counterparts, no one is alone in this, it affects all women,” Kadzombe said, speaking at the same platform.
She also highlighted how women’s voices are stifled because of gender biases and stereotypes.
“Women often hit an invisible barrier that limits their opportunities for leadership and hinders their progress. This glass ceiling symbolizes the gender biases and stereotypes that exist in society, thereby limiting women from achieving their full potential. Breaking this ceiling requires collective effort,” said Kadzombe.
Kadzombe was recently arrested, and faced charges of assaulting a Zanu PF member, joining a list of many other women like Fadzai Mahere, the “CCC trio” among others who have been victims of arbitrary arrests.
Many other women in Zimbabwean politics have faced obstacles throughout their careers despite their political affiliation and age.
Former Vice President, the only female VP Zimbabwe ever had, faced a lot of backlash when she was in ZANU PF due to societal expectations that women should prioritize family over politics, as well as being accused of riding on her husband’s military credentials. Despite her hard work from the days of the liberation struggle to post independence, she was not spared from the wrath of gender discrimination which undermined her political career and led to her retirement from politics after an attempt to form her own National People’s Party in 2018.
Linda Masarira, is another most attacked and criticized female politician in Zimbabwe. Despite having her own political party, Labour Economics and African Democrats (LEAD), she faces a lot of body shaming and name calling. Before forming her own party, she was once arrested under the Robert Mugabe administration. She also faced economic and structural barriers in trying to contest for the 2023 elections.
The only female presidential contestant for the 2023 elections Elisabeth Valerio of the United Zimbabwe Alliance (UZA) had to take her fight to the courts to appear on the ballot, after facing challenges with filing her nomination. She also experienced cyberbullying during her campaign, often being objectified and sexualized because of being a woman.
CCC’s Thokozani Khupe, a prominent opposition politician has also had her fair share of physical violence and harassment throughout her career, highlighting how dangerous the Zimbabwean political landscape can be for any woman.
Many other women in politics have stories of resilience to tell, and whilst from a distance they may seem to be triumphing, the lengths they have to go to get to the top are formidable.