This
is a new programme that came into being following the organization's
strategic planning process in January 2004. For WIPSU to effectively
deal with women's candidature in elections it would require a
full-fledged Programme. WiPSU embarked on a 'Vote
for a Woman Campaign' during the Urban Council Elections of
2003.
The election was the first held since WiPSU was established such
that it was the first time for WiPSU to participate in elections.
The Programme becomes relevant as the country prepares for the
Parliamentary Elections in 2005.
The
Campaigns and Publicity Programme involves everyone
2005
Elections 2005
is a Parliamentary elections year. One of the objectives of the
Vote for a woman campaign, which WiPSU ran for the Urban Council
Elections (August 2003), was meant to be a pilot case for the
2005 Parliamentary election. That experience confirmed that it
is prudent and strategic to start working on women's increased
participation as candidates early hence 2004 is the appropriate
period to do this. March 2005 is the scheduled period for the
elections. Preparations have already started for the political
parties. The work WiPSU would do around the 2005 includes:
1) Identifying
and mobilizing capable candidates 2) Capacity
building for identified prospective candidates
3) Mobilizing
women and the public' support for women candidates
4) Setting
up a women candidates campaign fund.
A
drama in Mabvuku, Harare popularises WiPSU issues with the
local community
Political
Parties
The current political environment indicates that the public
is voting for political parties. This makes political parties
a critical base for women who intend to run for the 2005 elections.
WiPSU needs to engage in a process where there are established
working relations with each of the parties which will enable
it to lobby, critique and advise parties on strategies and changes
to adopt that will ensure women are able to best participate
as party representatives and also within parties' internal selection
processes.
Urban
Councils Elections 2003
WiPSU
ran a Vote for a Woman Campaign from July to December 2003. The
Urban Council Elections of August 2003 presented an opportunity
to ensure that the lobby for equal representation of women and
men in decision-making became a lived reality. It was a first
time for WiPSU to embark on a Vote for a Woman Campaign and the
experience was capacitating not only for the women candidates
but for WiPSU as well. But it was not a first time for the women's
movement having embarked on a lobby process in the 2000 Parliamentary
Elections. Thus, WiPSU was also able to learn from the experiences
of the 2000 Elections.
