News / National
MDC-T VP challenge electorate to push for 50% women representation in Govt
11 Mar 2016 at 09:32hrs | Views
MDC-T Vice President Thokozani Khupe has challenged the electorate in Zimbabwe to push for the 50% representation in government.
S[peaking in commemoration of the International Women's Day, Khupe said this year as they celebrate International Women's Day we are grateful for
the contributions that have been made by women to humanity through social, economic, cultural and political spheres.
"We however remain mindful of the fact that much more still remains to be done in order to change the lot of women to a better position than it
currently is. Charles Malik opinions that "…the fastest way to change society is to mobilise the women of the world," she said.
"In our women's day celebrations this year we need to do more than just symbolic actions to pass the day. This years' theme of gender parity,
coming as it does on the background of World Economic Forum's projections that gender parity will only be achieved in 2095, enjoins us to redouble
our efforts towards ensuring gender parity in our lifetime."
She said as Leader of the Opposition in the Parliament of Zimbabwe sitting on a 35% women representation she can only call upon the electorate,
colleagues in parliament, civic society and all concerned stakeholders to focus their energies to improving women representation to the required 50% threshold.
"We all need to make a commitment towards actions that will bring about a paradigm shift in our patriarchal societies so that women can lead at all
levels and spheres of leadership, and can achieve their goals and ambitions without any engendered hindrances," she said.
"We need to pledge our unwavering and unconditional support to our unsung grassroots heroines, girls, and young women, and see out to our promises that they achieve their ambitions in line with gender parity goals."
Khupe said this weekend she will be privileged to share a platform with her party's women leadership in Bulawayo, Nkayi and Silobela in a bid to
improving the lot of women in their remote areas and indeed the whole country.
"In the same spirit, I urge all of us to add our voice and efforts to the cause of gender parity so that we can achieve this goal within our
lifetime," she said.
S[peaking in commemoration of the International Women's Day, Khupe said this year as they celebrate International Women's Day we are grateful for
the contributions that have been made by women to humanity through social, economic, cultural and political spheres.
"We however remain mindful of the fact that much more still remains to be done in order to change the lot of women to a better position than it
currently is. Charles Malik opinions that "…the fastest way to change society is to mobilise the women of the world," she said.
"In our women's day celebrations this year we need to do more than just symbolic actions to pass the day. This years' theme of gender parity,
coming as it does on the background of World Economic Forum's projections that gender parity will only be achieved in 2095, enjoins us to redouble
our efforts towards ensuring gender parity in our lifetime."
She said as Leader of the Opposition in the Parliament of Zimbabwe sitting on a 35% women representation she can only call upon the electorate,
colleagues in parliament, civic society and all concerned stakeholders to focus their energies to improving women representation to the required 50% threshold.
"We all need to make a commitment towards actions that will bring about a paradigm shift in our patriarchal societies so that women can lead at all
levels and spheres of leadership, and can achieve their goals and ambitions without any engendered hindrances," she said.
"We need to pledge our unwavering and unconditional support to our unsung grassroots heroines, girls, and young women, and see out to our promises that they achieve their ambitions in line with gender parity goals."
Khupe said this weekend she will be privileged to share a platform with her party's women leadership in Bulawayo, Nkayi and Silobela in a bid to
improving the lot of women in their remote areas and indeed the whole country.
"In the same spirit, I urge all of us to add our voice and efforts to the cause of gender parity so that we can achieve this goal within our
lifetime," she said.
Source - Byo24News
