She noted that things are not easy for women in politics, adding that in the previous parliament they had just 13% female representation but that the number has reduced to 10%.
“There are 17 women, inclusive of two female Paramount Chief Members of Parliament, which is a good start because we now have two female PCs as it was not easy for us to have such a position,” she said.
The ruling party lawmaker maintained that female lawmakers should forget about partisan politics; and that even though some are afraid of section 77(k) of the 1991 Constitution, a provision that a party could invoke to evict a recalcitrant lawmaker from parliament.
She advised female lawmakers to work as women and promote gender issues, adding that there are other women outside parliament that are willing to help them achieve their goals.
“I really think that it is easy to give us 30 percent. Let’s say they make provisions for 20 seats in the various districts for women. No matter who is given the symbol, they should win it at all cost. The former president promised to give us 30 percent, but all we now see is 10 percent, which is not good for us as women,” she lamented.
She encouraged the women’s caucus in parliament to join the fight for the inclusion of more women in governance.
“We need to galvanize for women. We need not to bring it to parliament for voting to take place because the men will not support us achieve it as they will not want to lose their seats to a woman, but we need to push our cause,” she stated.
She noted that 52 percent of the country’s population constitutes women and that it is timely that female representatives push women’s agenda collectively.