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Ready for 50/50? He Importance of Equal And/Or Fair Repre- Are Slim Election Watch Produced by the Institute for Public Policy Research (IPPR) Issue No. 4 2013 READY FOR 50/50? he importance of equal and/or fair repre- are slim. With many of the opposition parties Tsentation for democracy-building cannot winning only one or two seats in parliament, be understated. The International Institute as is evident in the current National Assem- for Democracy and Electoral Assistance bly, these seats almost always go to men. (International IDEA) notes that “the develop- This essentially means that the ‘ruling party’ ment of any political agenda that does not and the main opposition parties should ulti- include the perspectives, views and experi- mately take the lead in pressing for a more ences of those who will be affected is not equal gender representation. If Swapo and credible.” The Institute further states that the the RDP, for example, implemented the inclusion of women in governance is a key zebra system – all things being equal – gen- element of any democracy, as “the essential der representation of voting MPs would be at tenet of any democratic framework is the 43 percent instead of the current 24 per principal of human rights, including the grant- cent. ing and exercise of the political rights of both Against this background, proponents of men and women.” equal women’s representation agree that in Photo: RodgerPhoto: Busch /AFP/Getty Image Theoretically, Namibia has been very order to ensure that political parties come to good at stating its support for women’s Although the Ministry of Gender Equality The only level at which the representa- the party in realising 50/50 representation, equality in governance, through the various and Child Welfare (MGECW) is optimistic tion of women has been promising is within reforms to the electoral act that stipulate pieces of legislation and regional/interna- that Namibia will meet the Protocol’s 2015 the local authorities, where the Local Author- specific quotas and regulations need to be tional instruments it has signed. Practically, deadline, aside from efforts made at the ities Act stipulates that “where there are 12 made, to bring about the necessary change. however, Namibian women continue to be Local Authority level to increase women’s councillors, at least 5 should be women, and The African Union Commission and its part- represented predominantly by men – be it in representation, there is little indication that where there are 7 councillors, 3 should be ners, for example, note that “affirmative the traditional, local, or national councils and Namibia is prepped to meet the target. women.” This quota essentially ensures 42 actions and explicit constitutional provisions in the National Assembly. At the National Council and National per cent women’s representation at the local for dealing with gender-based discrimination In 2008, Namibia ratified the SADC Pro- Assembly levels, Namibia’s gender perform- government level. have advanced women’s positions in Ethio- tocol on Gender and Development which pia, Mozambique, Rwanda, South Africa, sets a 2015 deadline for the achievement of Tanzania and Uganda.” However, they also Women Office Holders at various levels of public office in Namibia equal representation of women in govern- agree that these measures are only a means ance and decision-making positions. With Members/ Number of Percentage OFFICE to achieving gender equality, not an end. the deadline looming, the 2014 elections will Councillors Women of women Beyond raising the numbers of women in essentially define how well Namibia fares in Cabinet 26 5 19% Parliament, capacitating both men and coming closer to 50/50 representation. National Assembly MPs 78 19 24% women to be more able representatives of The SADC Protocol combines a number the Namibian people, ensuring gender sen- National Council MPs 26 7 27% of existing gender-related instruments to sitisation amongst men and women elected which its member states (including Namibia) Regional Council 107 13 12% to office, mainstreaming gender, and engag- are signatory, including the Beijing Declara- Regional Governors 13 3 23% ing in cross-party discourse through the acti- tion and Platform for Action (BPFA); The Local Authority 323 135 42% vation of Women’s Parliamentary Caucuses Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Mayors 30 8 27% are all important elements to ensuring qual- discrimination Against Women (CEDAW, ity governance in the context of equal Source: Gender Links, 2011 1997) and its Optional Protocol; and The Mil- representation. lennium Development Goals (MDGs). With In assessing Namibia’s readiness to respect to governance, Article 12 of the Pro- ance leaves much to be desired. Despite a To a large extent, Namibia’s ability to meet the 2015 SADC protocol deadline, it is tocol calls for “at least 50 percent of deci- national gender distribution of 51% females meet the targets set by the Protocol will clear that without prescriptive mechanisms sion-making positions in the public and pri- and 49% males, and policies that set an depend on how well the various political par- to ensure that the electoral law and other vate sectors are held by women” , including example for other countries in the region and ties embody the ideals set out in the Proto- pieces of legislation guide political parties the use of affirmative action measures as the world at large, Namibia still has not sur- col. To date, only two parties (Congress of towards becoming engendered, Namibia will provided for in Article 5”. It also urges Mem- passed the 30 per cent mark at the National Democrats and the National Democratic not reach the 50% women’s representation ber states to make Constitutional and legis- Assembly or at the National Council levels. Party of Namibia) use a zebra list to ensure target. To this end, in its recommendations lative provisions to ensure compliance In fact, it has been disconcerting that Namibia equal gender representation. However, their for reforms to the Electoral Act, the Law (including within electoral systems and at the has slipped in its representation of women. impact on the national scale has been limited Reform and Development Commission party level), and calls for these measures to Currently, only 22 per cent of voting MPs in due to their poor performances in the 2009 (LRDC) in the Tötemeyer Report, urges con- be accompanied by public awareness cam- the National Assembly are women – down elections (CoD only won one seat, while sideration of the 50/50 Bill commission by paigns that “demonstrate the vital link from 30 per cent in the 3rd and 4th National NDPN did not win any). In other parties, even the Namibian Women’s Manifesto Network, between the equal representation and par- Assemblies. In the National Council, only 7 where women form a relatively high percent- the legalisation of the ‘zebra’ method of nom- ticipation of women in decision making posi- of the 26 (i.e. 27%) Regional Councillors are age of the party list, these women are often ination on party lists, and abiding by the tions, and democracy, good governance and female; and in Cabinet, only 5 of the 26 (19%) found lower down on the list – where their terms of the SADC Protocol on Gender and citizen participation.” members of Cabinet are female. chances of entering governance positions Development. ABOUT ELECTION WATCH Election Watch is a bulletin containing electoral analysis and voter education, which will appear regularly in the run up to the 2014 National Assembly and Presidential Elections. It is produced as a PDF download and as a printed newspaper insert. Election Watch is a project of the Institute for Public Policy Research (IPPR). It is produced with the support of the Canadian Fund for Local Initiatives (CFLI) and The Namibian newspaper. The content of this edition of Election Watch was written and compiled by IPPR Research Associate Nangula Shejavali. The content of Election Watch is the sole responsibility of the IPPR. Comments and feedback should be sent to the IPPR, PO Box 6566, Windhoek, Namibia. Tel: (061) 240514; fax: (061) 240516; email: [email protected]. For more on Election Watch check http://www.electionwatch.org.na Election Watch Issue No. 4 2013 LAW REFORM AND DEVELOMENT COMMISSION RECOMMENDATIONS. READY OR NOT? • “Gender equity should be pursued in all positions relating to electoral he numbers show that Namibia still has some way to go to achieving 50 per cent women’s representation in governance. tasks, from the lowest to the high- IPPR caught up with various political leaders and civil society activists to get their assessments and views on Namibia’s est level” and in all contexts. Treadiness to meet the SADC Protocol’s 2015 deadline for gender parity in governance and decision-making bodies. • Consideration by the Ministry of Regional and Local Government, our fellow men at the leadership level are the that ‘Out of a list of 72, I have put 36’, but all of Housing and Rural of the 50/50 Bill ROSALIA only ones active, and they leave their spouses them you’ve put behind where your party could proposal related to Regional Gov- NGHIDINWA at home, outside of politics. Everything starts at not achieve. In the four top positions of the ernment, National Council and Minister of home. If we can educate them, women will party you need strong women’s representation. Local Authority representation, as Gender Equality come up and participate politically. You find And not lip service. There are women who this is outside the scope of the and Child Welfare women only active at the grassroots level, but have skills, that could even be leaders of par- we want them to come up to bring about ties, that are being deliberately left behind.
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