Female politicians in Bulawayo have criticised the candidate’s nomination fees noting that it excludes women’s participation in the electoral process.
This came out during a round table discussion hosted by Amakhosikazi Media on Tuesday which was attended by young women and women in politics to discuss their involvement in politics ahead of the 2023 elections.
Zimbabwe Electoral Commission (ZEC) gazetted the nomination fees under Statutory Instrument (SI 144) of 2022 which will see aspiring presidential candidates paying US$20 000 and aspiring members of parliament paying US$1 000.
Proportional Representation (PR) lists for Parliament and Provincial council candidates must pay US$100.
Nomuhle Nyoni who contested the 2018 elections as an independent candidate said the nomination fees are exclusionary.
“In 2018, as independent candidates, we were paying US$50, now we are expected to pay US$1 000, already this is an elimination. We need political reforms now, honestly, the increase eliminates people from participating in elections,” said Nyoni.
Ward 17 councillor, Sikhululekile Moyo encouraged other women to participate in politics.
“When going to the nomination court there are other monies that are needed from an aspiring candidate, for an aspiring councillor one will pay US$100 while an aspiring MP will pay US$1 000, so these are the things that we are faced with as women,” she said.
Moyo warned women that political parties do not give candidates money if they want to contest in an election.
“Political parties don’t give candidates money, at times even in political parties there are some monies that are needed, so I don’t know now since ZEC has increased its fees, these are the things that women are faced with as we are preparing for the elections,” she said.
Meanwhile, ward 12 councillor Lilian Mlilo urged women’s organisations to come together and engage political parties and advocate for gender equality in choosing candidates, “if it is not there let elections be cancelled.”
Nyoni added that there is a need for electoral reforms that will ensure that 50/50 gender equality in the selection of candidates for political offices as provided by the constitution is followed.
“The reforms will also ensure that the 50/50 in section 56 of the constitution can be implemented because we are going to wait another five years as women,” said Nyoni
