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Hope for young African women as Uganda breaks new ground
Youth Forum
September 25, 2012

The recent triumph of Uganda and Africa's youngest lawmaker, 19-year old school leaver Proscovia Oromait, is evidence that the social misnomers that used to bar women from positions of power are being challenged. Gradually, women are penetrating historical barriers that have till very recently been closed to them, barriers that limited women's attainment of the highest levels of power and leadership in important sectors of society. Daring to aspire or reaching heights that very few women have attained can be remarkably fulfilling, but also so revealing - with mixed experiences, unique perspectives and this at times comes with inexplicable disappointments.

In July, Africa elected its first female leader of the African Union in the form of South Africa's Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma. Malawi's Joyce Banda became the second female president in Africa following in the footsteps of Liberia's Ellen Johnson Sirleaf who was elected to the country's highest office in 2006. Back home, Zimbabwe has females in the posts of Vice President (Joyce Mujuru) and Deputy Prime Minister (Thokozani Khupe), to mention just but a few powerful African women leaders.

Whilst it can be argued that these ladies are on the other side of age, it is encouraging to note that even the younger women are taking up the challenges and confronting the oppressive cultural practices that leave them looking up to older men for their survival. Uganda's Proscovia is evidence of such progress and should leave all other young African women with a challenge as to why they are not breaking out of their cocoons and taking up leadership positions.

Proscovia Oromait is now a role model to many countless young women across the whole continent of Africa. She has proved that in the contemporary world not only gender but also age cannot and should not restrict women in participating in politics. This comes at a good point in time where Zimbabwe is preparing for its own elections in the near future.

Despite the remarkable progress, despite the many breakthroughs, and despite the increasing awareness and acceptance of women's leadership in Africa, there still remain far too many obstacles impeding a woman's leadership and her upward mobility. Traditional African society is still hedged by a myriad of barriers designed to maintain women's subordinate status in society. Inimical and cruel customary practices towards women, disproportionate access to education resulting in the girl child not being enabled to go and actually stay in school and endemic poverty affecting the rural peasant woman are all barriers which contribute towards keeping women out of active leadership roles on the continent.

Most of the legal barriers towards women's progress have been overcome or reversed across the continent especially over the past 30 years. The challenge then comes with shedding outmoded perceptions of women's role in society as we are already moving forward, and the victories of the above mentioned individuals will go a long way in cracking these perceptions and practices.

The Youth Forum as an organization has also scored a first, not only in holding its first elective congress, but in electing a woman, Sally Dura, to the post of the first Chairperson of the organization. Commenting on Uganda's Oromait victory and women in leadership in general, Sally had this to say "Leadership - corporate or political - is cruel and generally unforgiving. Nowhere is this more evident than for women in Africa. Since a woman's role is generally thought of as to be supportive to her husband and family the hard knocks and politics of insults which generally characterize public leadership are not palatable to a politicians family and such women are thought of as bringing 'shame and disgrace' to their families."

Sally lamented the lack of support from fellow women when one want to take a leadership post, "Women leaders and politicians need the support of their sisters, mothers, grandmothers, aunts, classmates and cannot thrive without their active and vocal support. Women are generally thought of not to be supportive of each other and experience of many women leaders shows this to be a harsh reality. It takes a lot of inner strength and thick skin" she said.

In an endeavor to empower the girl child, the Youth Forum is encouraging and promoting young women to participate in the forthcoming elections not only as voters but also as upcoming politicians. Within its numerous activities and programs aimed at encouraging positive participation in elections by young people, the Youth Forum is also looking at helping young people, especially young women, to offer themselves as candidates in elections, and the election of 19 year old Proscovia is evidence that young people can also be elected into high offices. It is also important for the national constitution to allow for the election of these energetic young people to serve their nation.

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