The ManicaPost
Dorcas Mhungu Post Correspondent
FEMALE legislators who were elected on July 30 – Cde Esther Chikuni and Cde Chido Madiwa – used a common stairway of emotional intelligence to win the hearts and minds of the electorate.
“The most important thing I learned in Zanu PF is to be humble; the people want to be led by someone they know, who lives and interacts with them daily regardless of whether you are rich or not,” said Cde Chikuni, who won the proportional representation seat for Chimanimani.
Cde Chikuni narrated her political path which started at the lowest rung of the political ladder to become a Central Committee member and her current position as a legislator.
“We are the pioneers of the women’s quota system, and we were four. Our main task is to strengthen the party. My main interest is to encourage women to get educated. Young women need to be educated. They must go back to school. The world we live in today requires educated and qualified women. The other pressing issue is that of child marriages and this issue has been debated intensely,” she added.Cde Chikuni urged young girls desist from early marriage, saying they miss a lot of opportunities by taking that route.
She said there are many setbacks associated with child marriages.
“If they at a young age, they are not able to do a lot of things and it compromises the girl’s health. Young brides do not have adequate knowledge and they do not know how to look after the family. Such responsibilities require a mature woman. Maturity is needed in many areas. Maturity is needed to be a mother, in politics, in the family and even in farming”.
She emphasised the need for humility as a leader. Cde Chikuni said politicians have a daunting task to tolerant divergent as the people they serve hail from different backgrounds.
“You need to be tolerant because it is not everyone who hugs you who is hygienic. Some people who hug you have runny nose, so you need to be tolerant,” said Cde Chikuni.
“I am going to work with them closely and without looking at one’s political affiliation, we just have to work together as women. I am going to encourage women to embark on income-generating projects, given that we have recently launched the Women’s Bank. I am going to address high school girls on child marriages because it is a cancer,” said Cde Chikuni said.
Mutasa North MP Cde Chido Madiwa, who is a former civil servant and gender activist ventured into politics because it is the ideal platform to voice her concerns and push radically for change.
“I can now voice my concerns and be heard. I worked hard, won the primaries and parliamentary elections. I was surprised; the primary elections were very tough.
“I faced a lot of challenges that forced me to engage the people, and I won the hearts of the electorate and that gives me confidence. The general election was not easy,” an ecstatic Cde Madiwa.
Cde Madiwa added that the whole electoral process touched her as a woman.
“In as much as our government has done a lot in terms of coming up with pieces of legislation for the advancement of women, I will make sure the environment is conducive for women so that they can do what they aspire to in a more conducive environment,” she said.
