Participation of women in electoral politics wanting

The marginalisation of women in electoral politics is intensely entrenched in the party arrangements and preference by some women for incapable male

candidates to capable women candidates, political experts have suggested.

Daniel Kasomo of the Department of Religion, Theology and Philosophy Maseno University, Kenya urge that the motives for women being on the outer edge are varied but the central reason why there marginalized in the process is vested in social system in which males hold primary power that subsists in several countries across the globe.

Citing Tanzania which held her general elections but only Anne Mghwira of ACT Wazalendo emerging as presidential candidate challenging eight men political analyst and gender equity activists say the representation is far beyond the Beijing’s 50/50 declaration.

Apart from Anne Mghwira, the ruling Chama cha Mapinduzi (CCM) nominated former Minister Vice President’s Office (Union) Samia Hassan Suluhu to be a running mate for the party’s presidential candidate Dr John Magufuli.

According to Kasomo women do not only comprise the majority in terms of population, but they also play a crucial role in society as procreators of posterity as well as producers of goods and services.

“Although, women have made great strides forward in obtaining a vote and right to be elected to political offices in many countries, they comprise less than 15 per cent of the Members of Parliament, and less than 5 per cent of heads of state worldwide. “They hold only a fraction of other leadership positions nationally and internationally.”

Tanzania Media Women’s Association — Tamwa observation in the just ended general elections in Tanzania shows that yet imbalanced gender influence in political parties continue to put off women from electoral politics and acts as barricade in their mission to share political power.

Tamwa’s programme officer Happiness Bagambi says some women are inferior, upholding cultural practices and thus tiny participations in electoral politics. “Men use that opportunity to extend their dominance in all walks of life—politics, economics and societal domain.”

We as an organisation, we will continue offering civic education to the general public to see opportunities in elections so we can increase participations of women in electoral politics.

Like Kasomo, Bagambi acknowledges that last year was historic having that Mghwira shining third out of eight presidential candidates with Magufuli coming first and Edward Lowassa of Chadema’s Ukawa endorsed coming second.
Dr Asha-Rose Migiro former UN Deputy Secretary General told reporters in Dodoma that Tanzania is performing well on empowering women in various decision making posts. Migiro who was dropped by her part CCM when she run for the top job along with 42 others said she had survived the party’s central committee nomination.

Among the top five line-up nominated by the party’s ethics committee to CCM CC to issue three names, it was her, Magufuli and Ambassador Amina Salum Ali.
“I thank the party for believing in me,” Dr Migiro told the party’s general meeting in Dodoma which ended up picking Works Minister Dr Magufuli.

UN Women in Tanzania explained that Male-dominance in party completion was a woke-up call to the international office in the country that women should be empowered by giving them due status, rights, and responsibilities to enable them participate actively in decision making at the political level.

Prof Mwesiga Baregu openly said another common factor affecting female to have crucial representation is on the candidate selection process.

“It’s obvious the system has for years been a problem. It was well stated in the proposed constitution by Warioba Commission on a best modality that women could have equal representation in electoral politics otherwise they will be predominated by men,” he said.

Although researches had suggested that women carries the majority votes in the country’s elections; Anne Mghwira did not get the required votes to unseat the ruling Chama cha Mapinduzi.

She has showed we can and strongly fought the political battle, Dr Hellen Kijo-Bisimba said. “It’s on perception that Tanzania was not ready to be under domination of a woman … but we can and I think we still need more civic education,” she added.