Politics
Women are Gaining Power in African Politics
As African women break political “glass ceilings” at all levels of government, some are criticized for not doing enough to help other women. However, CAR President Catherine Samba-Panza made it clear from day one that she would be different. About a third of her Cabinet is female.
“I intend to respect parity because until now, the previous governments didn’t give us a lot of seats,” she said. “There were only two or three women. But I won’t choose women no matter what. I need to have women of worth, who are able to accompany my actions.”
Women hold just one-fifth of parliamentary seats and ministerial positions in sub-Saharan Africa. Although discrimination remains, the pool of qualified women is growing as more girls get to pursue an education. At least 16 African countries have passed parity laws. Countries like Rwanda reserve a percentage of parliamentary seats for women, while others like Senegal have set quotas for women on candidate lists.
In fact, the percentage of women in Senegal’s legislature doubled in 2012, thanks to the law, but prominent Senegalese politician and presidential adviser, Penda Mbow, says true equality requires societal change.
“Parity laws may be one tool but they are not enough. We also need to fix what goes on inside political parties and let capable, promising women emerge naturally so that when they are promoted, no one can say they got special treatment,” said Penda Mbow.
As of right now, Africa has three formidable female presidents tackling everything from security to corruption. Half a century after independence, women’s time may have come.
Source: Voice of America
