SADC Parliaments Still Male-Dominated Despite Decades of Advocacy
By Jonathan Mbiriyamveka
Despite years of advocacy and policy commitments, gender parity in Southern African politics remains a distant goal.
A recent report by the ESN-SA paints a troubling picture: while some progress has been made in increasing female representation in parliaments, the pace is too slow, and in many cases, women remain on the periphery of decision-making.
According to the report, the average percentage of women in lower chambers of SADC parliaments is 27.1%, slightly below the global average of 27.2%. While this may seem like progress compared to past decades, at the current rate, gender parity in national legislatures is not expected to be realized before 2063.
Why the Disparity?
The report identifies multiple factors that contribute to the slow pace of gender representation:
Cultural and Institutional Barriers
Deeply ingrained patriarchal norms continue to hinder women from entering politics. Political parties often favor male candidates due to entrenched biases that view women as less electable.
Electoral Systems Matter
Countries that use the Proportional Representation (PR) system tend to have higher female representation than those with a First-Past-the-Post (FPTP) system.
For instance, South Africa (PR system) has 44.7% women in its National Assembly, while Madagascar (FPTP) lags at 14.1%.
Lack of Political Will and Gender Quotas
Some countries have implemented quotas to ensure more women are elected, but enforcement remains weak. Where quotas exist, they are often set at low thresholds (e.g 30%) instead of equal representation.
The Global Context
While the world has seen some progress, the numbers remain unimpressive. Women hold just 27.4% of upper chamber seats globally and occupy only 23.3% of ministerial positions.
However, there have been some breakthroughs, with countries like Mexico, Namibia, and North Macedonia electing their first female presidents in 2024.
For SADC nations, the challenge now is to ensure that women are not only included in political spaces but that they have the influence needed to shape policy. Without urgent reforms, gender inequality in governance will persist for decades to come.
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