Africa: Women from P♂lls to P♀lls

POLITICS-BOTSWANA: I Lost the Election, But I Am a Winner

By IPS Correspondents
When Kgomotso Mogami threw her name into the hat to contest the Gaborone Central parliamentary seat it was easy for many people to write her off.

SOUTH SUDAN: Media Give Us a Fair Deal – Women

By Miriam Gathigah
The guns have gone silent – except for sporadic conflict in parts of the vast South Sudan region, such as the Eastern Equatoria State. It may not be the absolute end of the conflict in the region, but it is a reason for renewed hope.

POLITICS: Malawians Demand Local Councils

By IPS Correspondents
In Malawi, local government elections are as rare and endangered as the country’s black rhinoceros.
Venesa Karises (18) will be voting for the first time in Nambia's elections. Credit: Servaas van den Bosch/IPS

POLITICS-NAMIBIA: The Struggle Does So Not Continue

By Servaas van den Bosch
They are called the "born frees", the children of Namibia’s Independence, and they will vote for the first time this month. Struggle credentials mean zip to them, and they have a serious beef with politicians.
Senator Thuli Msane spoke out against arresting sex workers. Credit: Mantoe Phakathi/IPS

SWAZILAND: Help Sex Workers – Senator

By Mantoe Phakathi
It is one of the world's oldest professions, dating so far back that it is even mentioned in the Bible. But in the deeply cultural and religious country of Swaziland, Senator Thuli Msane stirred a hornet's nest when she publicly challenged a new strict bill opposing prostitution.

POLITICS-MOZAMBIQUE: Victory for Frelimo Amid Claims of Election Fraud

By Zenaida Machado
The incumbent, President Armando Guebuza, has won the Mozambican 2009 elections in a landslide, obtaining three quarters of the votes, according to official results.

ZAMBIA: Give Us Our Constitution

By Kelvin Kachingwe
Pressure is mounting for a new constitution that is inclusive of all citizens' views as the ongoing delays by the body granted to draft it still continues.
Margaret Roka Mauwa, the deputy Minister of Agriculture in Malawi, says she believes in working with the media. Credit: Charles Mpaka/IPS

AFRICA: Counting on Media for Good Governance

By Charles Mpaka
While campaigning in the last election, Margaret Roka Mauwa, Member of the Malawian Parliament, did not promise her voters that when she won she would buy them coffins.
There are myriad obstacles to overcome before women like this returnee in Southern Kordofan state can exercise their right to vote. Credit: John Nyaga/IRIN

SOUTH SUDAN: Complicating the Vote for Women

By Ruth Omukhango
In April 2010, the people of South Sudan will vote in a milestone general election, and for the first time, South Sudanese women will be able to participate.
Influencing the population: Nyiramilimo says Rwanda's women now have confidence in themselves that they can be politicians, entrepreneurs, and scientists. Credit: John Banda/IPS

Q&A: Reality Fell Upon Us: Women's Voices Must Be Heard

By Eunice Wanjiru
Fifty-six percent of Rwanda's parliamentarians are women, a manifestation of the active role women have taken in rebuilding the country since the 1994 genocide.

EGYPT: Disputes Rise Over Quotas for Women MPs

By Adam Morrow
Disputes have arisen over new legislation setting a quota for female representatives in parliament. Spokesmen for the ruling National Democratic Party (NDP) of President Hosni Mubarak describe the quotas as a milestone for women's rights, but some critics say the move threatens to create more problems than it solves.

POLITICS-BOTSWANA: Parties Block Women Candidates for Upcoming Elections

By IPS Correspondents
As Botswana prepares for general elections in October, gender activists are protesting against the lack of female parliamentary candidates.
South Sudan

POLITICS-SOUTH SUDAN: Women Ready To Take Their Place

By Joyce Chimbi
When the women of South Sudan welcomed the signing of the Comprehensive Peace Agreement (CPA) in 2005, they were cognizant of the fact that true democracy will be realised only when their human rights are realised.
Helen Zille: 'When you buck the narrative and say, sorry, the content of the job comes first, you are labelled a racist and a sexist.' Credit: Stephanie Nieuwoudt/IPS

POLITICS-SOUTH AFRICA: 'One Miracle at a Time'

By Stephanie Nieuwoudt
The African National Congress comfortably won almost two-thirds of the total vote in South Africa's recent elections, to retain power at the national level and in eight of the country's nine provinces.

POLITICS: ‘Women Are Born Leaders’

By IPS Correspondents
When Margaret Mensah-Williams walked down the steps after presiding over the Namibian parliament for the first time, male parliamentarians rushed to ask her how she became so good at chairing the house.
Protesting gender-based violence in Cape Town. Credit: Miriam Mannak/IPS

RIGHTS-SOUTH AFRICA: Election Campaign Silent on Violence Against Women

By Stephanie Nieuwoudt
With its emphasis on gender equality, the South African constitution is regarded as a great example for many other developing countries. Yet, despite laws intended to protect the rights of women like the Sexual Abuse Act and the Domestic Violence Act, women in the country still suffer indignities at the hands of police and in court.
Dancers at a political event -- women are gradually taking a seat at the high table. Credit: Pilirani Semu-Banda/IPS

POLITICS: Malawi’s Women Challenge For Top Posts

By Pilirani Semu-Banda
Sitting side by side, clothed in bright traditional outfits complete with headgear, they looked like any of the women who always dance and ululate for politicians at rallies.

ETHIOPIA: Political Space Narrowing

By IPS Correspondents
Bertukan Mideksa has a reputation in Ethiopia as a competent politician, but voters will not be able to cast ballots for her in the next national election. The revocation of her 2007 pardon has sent a chill through Ethiopia's opposition parties.
Abdalla -- pushing legislation to protect women's rights. Credit: Najum Mushtaq/IPS

POLITICS-KENYA: Taking Up a Women's Agenda

By Najum Mushtaq
The first woman from the Muslim majority island constituency of East Lamu to contest for a seat in Kenyan parliament, Shakila Abdalla is determined to give voice to the country's poor and marginalised.
Frelimo flies highest after low voter turnout. Credit: Amandio Vilanculo/IPS

POLITICS-MOZAMBIQUE: Few Women Mayors This Term

By IPS Correspondents
Bad news for women: of the eight women running for mayor in Mozambique's municipal elections held on Nov. 19, only three won. Overall, 114 candidates ran for mayor in 43 municipalities.
Does the handful of women nominated bode well for the future? Credit: Mercedes Sayagues/IPS

POLITICS-GHANA: The Fruits of the Future

By Francis Kokutse
The upside: three political parties selected women as vice-presidential candidates in the general elections of Dec. 7, the first time ever in Ghana’s history. The downside: the parties are small and have no real chance of victory.
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