by Palmira Velasco
“Defining Strategies for the Effective Participation of Women in Elections” is the motto of the meeting on women and elections held recently, at Hotel Polana, City of Maputo. The meeting took place simultaneously and virtually in all 11 provincial capitals of the country. At the opening of the event, it was recalled that since ancient times, women have always been considered incapable of carrying out activities that are not just domestic.
“Women are not only used to get on trucks, wear a shirt, scarf, capulana and receive a vuvuzela to carry out electoral campaigns. We want to be involved in political life in all aspects. A nation without women is a society without life!” said Lídia Ngulele, Vice-President of Fórum Mulher. This meeting was held in preparation, taking into account the general and presidential elections to be held on October 9th.
The issue of women in electoral processes is very important, as promoting the decision of women's equitable participation, with a view to the general elections, also involves listening to their voices. More than the right to vote, women's involvement is a human and fundamental right. UNDP Resident Representative, Edo Stork, said that although Mozambique is registering an increase in the number of women in parliament and government compared to other African countries, it still needs to do more. Mozambique currently has around 42.6% of women in parliament, but it still needs more women for equity.
“Women determine the political future of Mozambique because they are the largest female population. Democratic, inclusive processes require women to contribute to political decisions in this country”, said Edo Stork.
Participation must be balanced
The Representative of UN Women, Marie Laetitia Kayisire in her speech during the meeting on Women and Elections said that the occasion was the continuation of the joint journey towards women's engagement in women's political, economic and social life, an important fact for sustainable development from the country.
She also said that this meeting is part of goal V of the Sustainable Development Goals and equal opportunities in political, economic and social leadership.
“This meeting is relevant as it takes place during Women’s Month. (April 7th is Mozambican Women's Day) and, in the year of presidential elections in Mozambique”, said Marie Leatitia Kayisire.
In the most contested local elections on October 11, 2023, held in Mozambique, it was noted that women's participation improved. But electoral observatories say that the woman was exploited because they were only used to campaign for elections. However, women's participation should not be just quantitative, but qualitative, and this is a fundamental and balanced requirement for an equitable society, Lindsey Partridge, Deputy Director of the Canadian High Commission in Mozambique said during the meeting. She reiterated that it is the obligation of all participants in the national meeting is to make decisions taken and implemented.
“This is an opportunity for the President of the CNE, Dom Carlos Simão Matshinhe, to continue to do a lot of advocacy in favor of women. Because you are very influential in this country and are close to people in government, I ask you to advocate that women have the capacity and can do it. Women can occupy top positions and not just as participants at polling stations”, asked Lindsey Partridge.
The President of the National Elections Commission – CNE, Dom Carlos Matsinhe, who was severely criticized in protest of the 2023 electoral results, said in his intervention that electoral rights not only include the right to vote, but also include the right to association, to participate, being elected and the formulation of the country's policies. But, unfortunately the situation in our country is not as expected.
According to Dom Matsinhe, women's involvement in voting during elections has suffered a decline, according to the UNDP report since 2019, and this decline is also due to machismo and cultural aspects that still persist.
Dom Carlos Matsinhe said that it is necessary to urgently identify the barriers that prevent women from participating effectively in political life. Data from the 2023 elections show that women make up more than 53% of competitors, but of the 65 municipalities, only 6 women are in leadership. He added that the low rate of women is also due to machismo. The President of the CNE also said that political and government leaders are controlled by political parties and a lot of work must be done to change this situation.
“Women do not need to demonstrate their capabilities to be elected because men are not required to demonstrate capabilities, however, they are elected” said Rafa Machava, President of Fórum Mulher. She adds that electoral civic education should not only be done during election campaigns. She also suggests that civic education should be carried out in national languages and in different age groups. During elections, queues must be designated for women, elderly people, young people and people with special needs.
