Political Participation & Leadership

It has been argued that where women are fully represented, societies are more peaceful and stable. Women's political participation is fundamental for gender equality and their representation in positions of leadership must be a priority for all African governments. Women are largely under-represented in decision-making and leadership positions in Africa.

Over the last years, there has been more women in parliaments and decision-making positions than before. In the parliamentary elections of Rwanda in September 2013 women obtained 64 percent of the seats, which is the highest number in the world. However, women's participation in governmance and decision-making remain very limited. They are outnumbered by men in all decision-making and leadership positions.

In the history of Africa, there are now three women who have been elected president:

Ellen Johnson Sirleaf – President of the Republic of Liberia
Joyce Banda – President of the Republic of Malawi
Catherine Samba-Panza – Interim President of the Central African Republic

There is progress here and there on the continent regarding women's rights . We must go much further to ensure greater gender equality in Africa. It is not just a matter of justice....When women take their rightful place at the negotiating table, in the parliament and in leadership positions across society, we can unleash Africa’s enormous potential..." UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon

To learn more about women's political participation, please visit the following websites:

Source: Times Live
The Democratic Alliance's (DA) Johannesburg caucus leader‚ Vasco Da Gama‚ has thrown his support behind Refiloe Nt'sekhe for the position of the party's deputy federal chairperson.

South Africa

Source: The Star
Women legislators have launched a book on the improvement of girls' welfare.

Kenya

Source: Leadership
The hope that the 2015 governorship election will produce the first female elected governor in the country has appeared forlorn as the candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, Architect Darius Ishaku was coasting home to victory in the early stages of result collation in the state.

Nigeria

Source: Daily Monitor
Igara West MP Raphael Magezi has said majority of Ugandan women are not yet emancipated and are still treated as lesser beings by men.

Uganda

Source: Spy Ghana
As the search for who replaces the Chairman of Electoral Commissioner Dr Kwadwo Afari Gyan gathers momentum, The aL-hAJJ can confirm that President John Dramani Mahama, in line with his constitutional mandate, will be submitting three names to the Council of State for consideration and advice in the coming days.

Ghana

Source: Tanzania Daily News
THE Civic United Front (CUF) has promised women in Zanzibar that they will prosper if it wins and forms government after the October General election.

Tanzania

Source: NoozHawk
A Somali-born women's rights activist and free speech champion who has been a high-profile and vocal critic of Islam will be in Santa Barbara next month to talk about her new book.

Source:Swazi Observer
Whatever the level and incidence amongst African women in pre-colonial societies of autonomy, power, or authority with an economic basis or a political presence, the colonial state and the capitalist penetration of kin based modes of production changed what was there.

Source: Mail&Guardian
Hillary Clinton Sunday announced her candidature for the US presidency, the second time she will seek the Democratic Party's nomination following her failed bid in 2008.

Source: Zimbabwe Independent
FORMER vice-president Joice Mujuru and her allies in and outside Zanu PF have seriously begun a process of organising a new political platform to challenge Zanu PF in the 2018 general elections.