Overcoming boundaries:Women on the rise in African politics

OVERCOMING BOUNDARIES: WOMEN ON THE RISE IN AFRICAN POLITICS

Catherine Samba-Panza Central Africa’s Interim President

Gone are the days when women‘s participation in politics was an exception in Africa. Today Africa celebrates a high representation of women in parliament outdoing some of its western counterparts, who introduced the gospel of women emancipation to them. Africa boasts of three heads of state and a high representation of women in parliament, a sign that things are really looking up for women in the continent. Liberian president Ellen Johnson Sirleaf was the first female president in 2005, followed by Joyce Banda of Malawi in 2012 and now there is President Catherine Samba-Panza in the Central African Republic. The three women have made history for taking up posts amid crises in their countries, helping to tackle economic, social and political issues in scenarios where in the last decade no one thought they would have been able to hold the fort. A recent publication in Washington Post highlights parliaments in Africa have greater representation of women than in the US Congress. While baffling ,as it seems African countries have outdone the  preacher of women empowerment. Statics as Alitip wrote show:

 … today Rwandan women hold 64% of the country’s legislative seats. In Senegal, Seychelles and South Africa, more than 40% of parliamentary seats are held by women, while in Mozambique, Angola, Tanzania and Uganda over 35% of seats are occupied by women. By contrast, women in the US hold 18% of the seats in the House and 20% in the Senate.

These statics are a sign that women empowerment in Africa is fast taking a grip in the continent and the number of women holding powerful portfolios is continuing to rise. Arguably one can attribute the rise also to the introduction of parity laws by African countries. The parity laws have had an effect of emancipating women by reserving a quota seats for women in Parliament. A total of 16 African countries among them Zimbabwe, Rwanda and Senegal  have introduced the laws, a sign that Africa is on the drive of empowering women. Although, Africa still has a long way in securing female rights the rise in women representation is a step forward towards attaining girl child rights, in a continent that has been battling to  guarantee the rights. As history continues to revels itself through women leadership in Africa lets have the courage and hope that the time for  female emancipation is here to stay.