Women in Politics

Lydia Thembo is one of many women who have no clue about the writing of a new constitution and how they can contribute. Credit: Ignatius Banda

ZIMBABWE: A Chance for Women’s Voices to be Heard?

By Ignatius Banda
As Zimbabwe embarks on writing a new constitution with the countrywide collection of public submissions starting on Jun. 23, not all women are upbeat about the process.
Luisete Macedo Araújo wants to be Angola

ANGOLA: Changing More than Policies

By Julianna Ricardo
She may have been little-known in political circles until now, but by putting herself forward as the first female independent presidential candidate, Luisete Macedo Araújo (50) has thrust herself into the limelight.

MALAWI: Changing the Face of Politics

By Laure Pichegru
The face of politics is changing in the southern African country of Malawi. And civil society is making plans to ensure that it changes even more.
Aminata Mbengue Ndiaye, one of the few female mayors in Senegal, says training and support are needed for more women to gain elected office. Credit: Serigne Diagne/Wikicommons

Door to Political Office Opens for Senegalese Women

By IPS Correspondents
A law on gender parity in electoral lists, approved by a large majority in Senegal's National Assembly, has been welcomed by women from diverse walks of life.
Women voters are ambivalent on the need to increase female representation in the Mauritian parliament. Credit: Nasseem Ackburally/IPS

MAURITIUS-POLITICS: Voting for the Future

By Nasseem Ackbarally
Incumbent Prime Minister Navin Ramgoolam has won the Mauritian election, retaining a third term of office.
A Sudanese voter casts his vote during the elections. Results will be announced on Apr. 22. Credit: Nichola Mandil

SUDAN: Election Results Expected Soon

By IPS Correspondents
Poor access to telephone networks and lack of roads in some areas of South Sudan is delaying the submission of voting results to the election commission.

POLITICS-SUDAN: African Leaders Call for Peaceful Elections

By IPS Correspondents
With less than a month to the historic multi-party poll in Africa’s largest country, Sudan, eminent African leaders are calling for a peaceful and calm election process.
Victoire Ingabire declared her interest in the country

POLITICS-RWANDA: Woman Vies for Top Job

By Stanley Kwenda
On average women constitute 18.8 percent of representatives in parliaments across the world according to the Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU). This gender imbalance has been subject to much feminist criticism and many campaigns for change have been staged to address the status quo. The situation is however different in Rwanda.
Nigerian men queue to vote at a polling station in Katsina, northern Nigeria, in 2007. Activists say women are still politically marginalised. Credit: Tiggy Ridley/IRIN

POLITICS-NIGERIA: In the Shadows of Men: Women’s Political Marginalisation

By IPS Correspondents
Ten years after Nigeria returned to civil rule women still play second fiddle in the male-dominated politics of Africa’s most populous nation, women politicians and activists say.

DEVELOPMENT-CAMEROON: Are Women the Magic Bullet for “Electoral Apathy”?

By IPS Correspondents
A support network for women's political participation, is challenging head-on what it calls "electoral apathy", after noting a growing trend in electoral abstention.
Women protest against the suppression of their rights. Credit: Evelyn Matsamura Kiapi/IPS

INTERNATIONAL WOMEN’S DAY: ‘We Will Demonstrate, As They Celebrate’

By IPS Correspondents
‘Equal rights; equal opportunities’ may be the theme for this year’s International Women’s Day, but while women around the world celebrate, a group of Ugandan women are protesting against the suppression of their rights.
Women's rights organisations want political parties to nominate one female candidate for every three candidates in the next election. Credit: Nasseem Ackbarally/IPS

POLITICS-MAURITIUS: Plea for More Female Candidates

By Nasseem Ackbarally
Sandhya Boygah considers herself a victim of male-dominated politics. In 2007, she was asked by her party, the ruling Labour Party, to step aside and allow a man to stand for the elected post she sought.

POLITICS-TOGO: First Female Presidential Candidate

By Noël Kokou Tadégnon
Brigitte Kafui Adjamagbo-Johnson, head of the opposition Democratic Convention of African Peoples party, is Togo's first female presidential candidate. But she has withdrawn from the electoral process.

POLITICS-SUDAN: Security Essential to Ensure Peaceful Elections

By IPS Correspondents
Peace in Sudan remains an uncertainty ahead of the country’s first general elections in 24 years, according to the African Union Commission chief.

ZAMBIA: Scarcely Room for Women in Male-dominated Politics

By IPS Correspondents
Charity Mwansa, a former minister and member of parliament, knows just exactly what being one of the very few female politicians in Zambia means. When she left politics it had nothing to with not being able to do the work and instead had everything to do with the mad world of male-dominated politics.

COTE D’IVOIRE: Independent Candidate Pledges Reconciliation

By Fulgence Zamblé
Presidential elections in Côte d'Ivoire, scheduled for Nov. 29, were postponed until February or March 2010. Among the candidates who will try to take advantage of some additional time to campaign will be the sole independent candidate, Jacqueline Oble.
Experts believe women need to show what value they can add to the lives of the south Sudan people as they work towards rebuilding the country. Credit: Tim McKulka/UNMIS/IRIN

SOUTH SUDAN: A More Gender Representative Leadership

By Miriam Gathigah
As the general elections scheduled for April 2010 draw nearer in Africa’s largest country ravaged by a long drawn war, the scramble for political positions is rife as women struggle to make their presence felt.
Paramount Chief Mwata Kazembe of the Lunda people being presented to the people. Credit: Lewis Mwanangombe/IPS

ZAMBIA: Let our Chiefs Govern

By Lewis Mwanangombe
The Litunga of Barotseland, King of the Lozi, has no judicial or legislative authority. No supervisory control over government projects, and worst of all he cannot stand for elected office. Yet successive Zambian presidents have deferred to him.

UGANDA: Political Parties Fail to Declare Funding

By Joshua Kyalimpa
The Electoral Commission of Uganda says if they tightened the noose around parties which fail to declare election funding, all of them would probably be deregistered.
The ECZ has failed to drag offenders of election violence to court. Credit: Lewis Mwanangombe/IPS

ZAMBIA: Violence Threatens Polls

By Lewis Mwanangombe
Prisca Musonda is an ardent supporter of Patriotic Front leader Michael Sata and his party. She has travelled with him to most parliamentary constituencies campaigning in elections.
Displaced southern Sudanese women and children of Jikany Nuer in a village outside Nasir town in Upper Nile state. Credit: Peter Martell/IRIN

SOUTH SUDAN: Making of a Nation still Holding on to the Past

By Miriam Gathigah
The five children of Mary Muwombi have grown up in the war of south Sudan. It was a harsh existence - living on the brink of death and eating whatever they could find just to survive.
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