ZEC urges women to stand against men in 2018 polls

The Zimbabwe Electoral Commission (ZEC) has urged women organisations to start identifying fellow females who can stand against men in the 2018 elections.

The comments by the electoral body come at a time when women failed to achieve the 50-50 representation in the 31st of July 2013 harmonised elections, a development which disappointed many women organisations.

Speaking to the ZBC News, ZEC Deputy Chairperson, Joyce Kazembe said women organisations should start identifying female leaders who can contest in the next elections to ensure they achieve the 50-50 percentages in the elective process.

"The time is now for women to start preparing for the next elections by identifying women who can challenge men in various constituencies. This will play an important role towards the attainment of the envisaged figures in parliament," she said.

In the 31st of July, 2013 harmonised elections, women failed to get the 50-50 representation.

All parties fielded 90 women compared to 663 males who participated.

For the next five years, 85 women will be in the lower house while 39 will be in the upper house though such numbers were achieved through the proportional representation.