International Women’s Day – 8 March 2026
Advancing Women’s Political Participation and Safeguarding Gender Equality in Democratic Processes
On this International Women’s Day, the Election Resource Centre (ERC Africa) joins the rest of the continent in reflecting on the progress made and the persistent barriers that continue to limit women’s full participation in political and electoral processes. This year’s global theme, “Give to Gain,” is a reminder for Zimbabwe and the broader African region to invest in the empowerment of women to ensure meaningful representation in electoral and political processes.
Across Africa, women remain underrepresented in political leadership despite regional commitments under frameworks such as the SADC Protocol on Gender and Development and the African Union Agenda 2063, which call for equal representation and meaningful participation of women in governance. Structural barriers including political violence, limited access to resources, patriarchal norms, and exclusion from decision-making spaces continue to undermine women’s political advancement across the region.
In Zimbabwe, women’s political participation remains particularly fragile. While the Constitution introduced the women’s quota to improve representation, broader institutional and political reforms remain necessary to create a genuinely enabling environment for women in politics. ERC Africa is especially concerned that the proposed Constitutional Amendment No. 3 of 2026, which seeks to dissolve the Zimbabwe Gender Commission (ZGC) and transfer its mandate to the Zimbabwe Human Rights Commission (ZHRC), risks weakening institutional mechanisms dedicated to advancing gender equality. Across Africa, strong and independent gender institutions have played a critical role in promoting accountability and protecting women’s rights. Weakening such mechanisms may undermine the progress made toward gender-responsive governance.
As the continent continues to push for democratic consolidation, it is imperative that governments strengthen, not dilute institutions, that safeguard women’s rights and participation in politics.
ERC Africa therefore calls on policymakers across the region, including Zimbabwe, to prioritise reforms that expand women’s political participation, protect gender equality institutions, and create safe and inclusive political spaces for women.
For further information contact:
Election Resource Centre Africa (ERC Africa)
erczimbabwe@gmail.com
www.ercafrica.org
