From BUUMBA CHIMBULU in Maputo
FEMINISTS have continued to push discussions around women movement forward on both international and local forums, underscoring the critical link between empowerment and economic progress on the African continent.
The on-going fourth edition of the African Conference on Debt and Development (AfCoDD IV) being held in Maputo is one the forums where discussions around women empowerment have taken a centre stage.
The conference dedicated a session “Women in Power: Power, Politics, and Resources,” focused on overcoming the barriers that women face and ensuring they have a significant voice in shaping policy and resource allocation.
During the discussions, Senior Budget Analyst from the Zambian Parliamentary Budget Office, Edna Kanguya highlighted: “Gender equality in political power is essential for achieving economic justice,” as she admitted the persistent underrepresentation of women in key decision-making positions and resource allocation in Africa.
Ms Kanguya noted that women constituted a significant portion of the population.
She, however, regretted that women continued to be underrepresented in key decision-making and also in allocation of resources.
“Men have always dominated or centred around power,” she said, “and this has marginalised women. We must have equal voices with the men,” Ms Kanguya said, emphasising the need for women to have a seat at the table when decisions are made about resource allocation and policy.
Khanysile Tshabalala-Litchfield, from the African Parliamentary Network on IFFs and Tax also added her voice on women empowerment.
Dr Tshabalala-Litchfield highlighted the systemic inequalities that hindered women’s participation in political and economic spheres.
“Women remain underrepresented in key decision-making bodies, including parliaments, and their access to resources continues to be limited. Women hold less than 30 percent of parliamentary seats in most parliaments in Africa.
“This means that their influence on policies and resource allocation is significantly hampered. The issue of women’s exclusion from power is deeply rooted in a historical context where men have dominated power structures,” she said.
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