Who is WiPSU?

What's new at WiPSU?

From the Directors' Desk

Women in Politics Support Unit (WiPSU) is a registered Zimbabwean non-governmental organization established in April 2001 by a group of feminists. It is a feminist, non-partisan, vibrant, women's organization that supports women's political leadership and participation in governance. The organization provides assistance to women in Parliament and Local Government in Zimbabwe (i.e. elected public/political office) and women candidates to elected political office. WiPSU aims to increase women's qualitative and quantitative participation in political processes, political processes and in policy and decision-making.

WiPSU members during the 50 - 50 campaign

WiPSU views women's effective political participation as a basic human right and a pre-requisite for democracy and accountable governance. Women constitute the majority of the population in Zimbabwe, currently at 52% and must be represented in proportion to their numbers. Democracy requires the full participation and equal representation of all citizens in political processes in a manner promoting their equality. Women's participation will also make a qualitative difference to governance because women's experiences and skills will also inform the processes and decision-making.

WiPSU's primary constituency comprises of:

• Women MPs (currently 16 out 150, i.e. 10.6%)
• Women Councillors in Urban Local Government (currently 48 out of 353, i.e. 13.6%)
• Women candidates to elected political office
• Women in the constituencies of the MPs and Councillors

Working with these women at the all the different levels of political leadership and participation gives a holistic and multidimensional approach. The focus on women candidates ensures that they develop effective campaign strategies and market their candidature as women, with the aim of increasing the numbers of women in political office. The focus on elected women is on strengthening their technical, institutional and resource capacities so that they can effectively represent women's concerns and perspectives.

Members of WiPSU march in Harare during the 50 - 50 Campaign

Further, it creates linkages with women at the various levels creates vertical linkages ensuring that issues from the grass-root are taken up to the national level, i.e. Parliament and vice-versa. The women leaders and women in the constituencies are located in both the urban and rural areas and this gives WiPSU a wide geographical reach and a spread in terms of issues emanating from the two different settings.

WiPSU's non-partisan approach is evident by the fact that the organization is working with women from all political persuasions and affiliations whether or not they are affiliated to a political party. This has resulted in one of the organization's strong points being that it has been able to foster inter-party collaboration on women's issues and the gender agenda.