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Supporting
the 50 - 50 campaign
Zimbabwe Election Support Network (ZESN)
November 28, 2006
http://www.zesn.org.zw/docs/pdf/ZESN_Supporting_50_50_Campa.pdf
Following the re-enactment
of the Electoral
Act, 2004 and the enactment of the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission
Act, 2004 and the Constitution of Zimbabwe Amendment Act, 2005, which
together in varying degrees, implemented some of the proposals put
forward by ZESN in 2003/2004, there are several outstanding aspects
of the ZESN proposals which it continues to recommend. These proposals,
which are mainly constitutional, institutional (i.e. relating to the
establishment of an elections body) or pertaining to general electoral
procedures and practices, will be flighted in a series of adverts
by the network. We encourage all interested stakeholders to contact
us for further details or any other input so that together we promote
democratic elections in Zimbabwe.
Election of members
of the Upper and Lower Houses of Assembly
Concern over the unfairness inherent in the first-past-the-post single
member constituency system and the resultant wasting of a large number
of votes, especially where these votes form a very significant proportion
of the votes cast, was the reason behind the recommendation for the
election of some members of the Upper and Lower Houses of Assembly
on a constituency basis and others on the basis of proportional representation
using a closed party list system and a minimum threshold to qualify
for a seat on the votes cast. The system of appointing members to
Parliament and Senators by the President was deplored as undemocratic.
The recommendation has not been adopted and the concerns in this regard
remain.
Some of the disadvantages
of first-past-the-post
- Excludes minority
parties
- Excludes minority
groups
- EXCLUDES WOMEN
- Encourages
sectorian parties
- Unresponsive
to changes in public opinion
- Open to manipulation
of electoral boundaries
- Problem of
minority government
- Winner take
it all
ZESN proposal
on gender balance
A recommendation
for a legislated minimum of 50% women parliamentarians in line with
the SADC recommendations has not been adopted. That it is imperative
that this matter be addressed constitutionally or legislatively
is demonstrated by the results of the last parliamentary elections
in which women make up only about 16% of the total membership of
the House of Assembly. Again we advocate for the abolishment of
the firstpast- the-post system that also disadvantages women and
recommend the adoption of proportional representation, with quota
system at political party level, which more effectively takes care
of minority and disadvantaged group interests including women. Research
shows that, countries with proportional representation system have
better woman representation in decision making as the case with
South Africa, Mozambique and Tanzania. ZESN therefore, recommends
the adoption of proportional representation first so that Zimbabwe
realises the 50 - 50 gender balance in decision-making.
Visit the ZESN
fact
sheet
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