Women Politicians In Zimbabwe

"I'm glad that the African Union appointed African Youth Peace Ambassadors for the various regions in Africa. And we've been having consultations regarding a Continental Framework on Youth, Peace and Security. As I speak, Youth Peace Ambassadors are in Nigeria to consult on that framework and to assist in rolling out a national action plan on peace and security."

"What's come up the most is youth livelihoods. They also want us to focus on accelerating efforts on tackling issues related to climate change and adaptability, climate finance, and climate education."

"I expect young people to be at the forefront of efforts to address the climate crisis. We should have the needs of young people at the forefront when it comes to climate adaptation and climate financing. We must also have opportunities for young Africans to innovate and provide climate solutions. For COP27, I am hoping there is a youth advisory board to ensure that the needs of young people are fully represented."

"Through a listening tour, I commit to engaging with youth organisations, youth transformative groups and young Africans across our continent and in the Diaspora with the aim to represent everyone and to tap into all the bright ideas that will propel and accelerate further efforts.“I advocate for inclusion of young people with disabilities in decision-making processes. It is important that no one person is left behind."

"So, that is what I am lobbying for and come 2023, I believe that one of my priorities as I am in office is to make sure that we have more young people sitting on the table in these discussions as we deliberate, in terms of Africa, where we are, where we would like to go, and ensure that all the young people are also represented in these conversations.”"

"“I am lobbying that come next year the next AU Heads of State Summit should be held in collaboration with an AU Youth Summit, so that young people can get to sit on the same table with Heads of State and be able to drive the agenda in achieving the Africa that we want and engineer the solutions together."

"I would say do not ever underestimate the impact that you makein this world. I feel like as young people at times, we underestimate how we’re contributing towards society. But never do so, it could be within a community, within a family, within a country, a continent or globally, but ultimately, we are all contributing, at whichever stage that you are. So, keep that in mind. Always do the best that you can."

"I think it’s great that I’ve had the opportunity. It’s something I do not take lightly. I believe that my role is unique. In that I also have an opportunity to speak to young people, being communities being in civil society, through national youth councils, through Member States, at the same time, I also have an opportunity to speak to the policymakers and the governments. From the Ministers, the Head of States, other Special Envoys. And it gives an opportunity to make sure that you merge that. That the voices of young people, from what I hear from the ground through my youth townhall meetings through the listening tours, reaches the decision-making table, where I’ve had the privilege of accessing the decision-making table. At the same time, also making sure what comes from the policymakers reaches young people too."

"I think if I speak about the challenges or something that’s commonly faced with a lot of young people. And it’s when you get into space where there’s already a lot of experience with the people that you’re working with, at times you find yourself putting pressure on yourself just to work harder and to prove yourself. And I think that was the first challenge when I joined, not that anyone had put pressure on me, but I was putting pressure on myself to say, “I need to deliver”. “I’ve been entrusted in this role”. “I’ve been appointed by the Chairperson”. “I’ve been recognized by the African member states”. There’s a lot on the stake for me. Not only there to be most importantly the constituency that I represent, again, will hold me accountable. So, it comes with, you know, that pressure of ‘I need to do it and I need to do it now’ because there’s so many challenges. A lot of challenges were faced with an Africa at the moment from high unemployment to conflict rising, to climate change issues, to democratic governance and the human rights of young people. It’s so much. It’s a lot and, you know, you want to be able to deliver results."

"For young people worldwide, my message is that the future is in our hands. We must act now. We must influence decisions that affect us."

"Nowadays there are spirits attacking our children. The spirit of drinking, drug abuse and doing other abnormal things way beyond their age."

"They say I want to be president. Why not? Am I not a Zimbabwean?."

"It’s impossible for one to spend a million dollars in an hour."

"Treaty Body reporting provides an opportunity, not only to take stock of the implementation of human rights obligations, but more importantly to identify existing gaps in promotion and protection of human rights in Zimbabwe."

"Members of the public who participate in any action or activity involving the national flag or to bring the national flag into disrepute are warned that they are liable to prosecution."

"To be perfectly honest with you, the experience for me from 2013 to 2018, I think what’s different for the PR MPs who went in, in 2018 and have gone through the Parliament to date for the simple reason that the politics was more settled"

"That is merely changing the playing field to suit the moment and the strong feeling is that from the participants and from the Committee deliberations, is that the Bill needs to go back to the drawing board with proper consultation of the stakeholders as a whole, the health professionals themselves plus the public"

"So, apart from the fact that it is unconstitutional, it is against ILO, things that we have signed up to, it is against the Labour Act as it stands and amending the Labour Act to suit this particular Bill for a commission seems like, how is that aligning the Constitution"

"It will increase the problems in public health institutions, not decrease them because it does not seek to solve the root cause of the problems in public health institutions in Zimbabwe"

"If I wear yellow, some will think I’m CCC. But this is about creating a platform for democracy"

"CCC as a democratic vehicle has been destroyed by Tshabangu. The Democratic Alternative is still in its early stages, but Zimbabweans deserve true democracy, not autocracy"

"We still face 11 to 18-hour power cuts. ZESA’s problems remain unsolved"

"Gwayi-Shangani has had some progress, but at what cost? Hwange 7 and 8 were funded by massive loans from China. Who knows the interest rates or whether repayments are being made? Our children and grandchildren will shoulder this debt"

"Government is not a business; it’s about serving taxpayers. Right now, neither the government nor the opposition is meeting the people’s needs"

"The visit to Mnangagwa’s farm was the final proof. Tshabangu and Zanu PF played this as a charade to present a false sense of opposition cooperation"

"Nelson Chamisa only distanced himself from CCC when it became clear the party had been manipulated. The recalls happened, and court cases stalled"

"Tshabangu’s legitimacy came from Zanu PF’s support. The CCC had blocked a two-thirds majority, but these recalls gave Zanu PF the leverage they needed to pursue their agenda"

"When you are walking by faith you'll see things from a different perspective.""

"Nicola Watson respond "What have you offered to the province as a PR MP?"

"PR MPs don’t have a dedicated budget like the Constituency Development Fund, yet there are numerous social issues in the constituency, including poverty."

"I come from a family with a strong political background. My mother served as an MP, and in 2000, I entered opposition politics after witnessing the economic decline and feeling driven to make a positive change."

"For example, the proportional representation MPs from Bulawayo represent the people of Bulawayo and they are perfectly able to bring issues that apply to Bulawayo to Parliament, as I actually was able to do in 2013 when they sit on their committees, they can represent either women or the issues from the province from which they come"

"I think that for me the problem in Parliament is 270 people. In two and a half to three hours in an afternoon, three afternoons a week somebody’s not going to be heard because it’s just physically not possible. And there’s so much work if you look at an order paper. I think that one day you should do (Twitter) spaces on how Parliament actually works? How does the business of Parliament work"

"You say Oh, they (PR women MPs) don’t want to bring up motions. They’re scared to ask questions, but the questions you ask in Parliament, the motions you bring in Parliament are not supposed to be on a political party basis. They’re supposed to be national"

"I think that there is a misunderstanding of how Parliament works"

"You don't have to think from a shortage mentality, God has enough for everyone."

"We should also address inequalities hindering access to health services . It calls for integrated efforts and we must leave none behind in closing the gap."

"The ANC could not bear having me not doing anything at home ...and they elected me Chairwoman for the Mashonaland South Province."

"I am certain that we will have a platform to share a few ideas about Harare West and Parliament and there is a lot to learn for young and new MPs like myself."

"She was a dedicated, unwavering and selfless party cadre who was committed to the liberation of Zimbabwe and its development."

"There are many people who have capacity and perhaps better energy to take on the Parliamentary role and it is important that they too are supported and encouraged to move forward. I, therefore, hold no grudge against the party for choosing to move forward without me"

"I know that if someone is doing something good, I am more inspired by it than when I hear someone talking about doing something good"

"Tax incentives should also be introduced for the corporate world so that they can partner sport and our teams are fully resourced"

"As Government we are unable to fund everything but it is about thinking outside the box and approaching the corporate world"

"We need to be part of all the difficulties the teams would be going through and not only be part of the success story"

"We are talking about grooming young talent, the future of Zimbabwean sport. We are not supposed to wait until we have world-class players but we have to start from the grassroots"

"everyone should be involved if the country is to achieve true peace"

"the international peace day is an opportunity for communities to embrace each other’s differences, listen to each, preach tolerance and ensure the voices of the poor are heard"

"without peace there will never be development in Zimbabwe"

"Non-English quotation."