There is little doubt about the dysfunction that continues to polarise our political discussion; gender disparity is disabling Mthwakazi systems; we are still a male dominated society with less women in politics and positions of influence; we remain a part of a less inclusive world in which women made up an estimated 49.6% of the population in 2016, but only occupied 23.6% (23.9% in Sub-Saharan region) of parliamentary positions globally.
Continue readingCategory: Sexism
Where are the Mthwakazi women?
Looking ahead, we need to be clear on the Mthwakazi we aspire to; people need to comprehend what taking control of our social, economic and political space would mean to the region and their lives. To achieve that we need to have a minimum level of credibility to challenge the status quo and call for genuine socioeconomic and political inclusivity.
Continue readingIf that Chronicle cartoon is no bother what is?
No surprise then, an ethnic Shona male paints a picture of skimpily clad Ndebele women because he enjoys looking at them, and blames poor educational attainment, thus insulting the women whose ‘nakedness’ he has depicted for his personal pleasure.
Continue readingMatabeles must vigorously confront stereotypes
Zimbabwe’s independence has presided over the construction of barriers to openness and the creation of a social structure epitomised by a dangerous unconscious or conscious investment in the perceived superiority of ethnic Shona people while ethnic Ndebeles are subjectively seen as comparatively inferior.
Continue readingZimbabwean independence and women
The 34 years of Zimbabwean independence has brought little reason for women to celebrate. The pertaining socio-political conditions are abnormal; they render women’s status no different from the mid 20th Century; Zimbabwean women remain severely under-represented in positions of power. The status quo has to be confronted head on; there is no justifiable reason why things should continue as they are.
Continue readingGender equality is not optional but a right
It is an irony that a continent worst affected by and well aware of the impact of oppression of humans by other humans continues to drag its feet when it comes to the freedoms of a huge section of its population. In virtually all of Africa, except for Rwanda, we still witness men’s active and robust resistance to women’s emancipation. It is incomprehensible that chromosome arrangement alone would determine human worth in the 21st century; it is morally wrong that in any society today sex would be a factor in determining the right to top political positions.
Continue readingAssessing Matabeleland women’s political participation
‘For most of history, anonymous was a woman’ (Virginia Woolf, 1929); it was wrong back then, it still is wrong today. The 21st Century Mthwakazi must address gender inequality as a human rights matter of urgency.
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