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IF YOU’RE NOT ON THE TABLE

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‘IF women are not on the table, then they are on the menu’. Who would have known how vividly this sentence would come alive in Swaziland?

I simply hope that the last couple of years have taught women how not voting for women has cost us many of our sisters’ lives. Many women had been running for leadership in our communities, and out of 55 constituencies, only one woman was voted into Parliament. And despite numerous efforts to change this, even backed by the Constitution, it just didn’t happen. Studies, and evidence from countries where there is an equal political representation of men and women, have all proven that women in office make it a priority to advance rights, equality and opportunity for women and girls, in a way and to a degree that men in power overwhelmingly do not.
As we are all involved in the process of registering to vote, I hope we are clear on the kind of leaders we want to see moving this country forward.

Now, Vision 2022 was one of the best ideas that the country has had, but what good does it serve if only a few citizens get to witness First World status? I mean, how many women have died in the hands of fellow Swazis since the vision was introduced? How many rape cases have been reported? Rape cripples the mind of a woman; it traumatises her in ways that if her mental health is not prioritised after the ordeal, she is as good as a walking zombie. Working with young women on the ground, I realise how many of us are really damaged, and how despite all the damage, we are expected to keep up a strong, ‘I’m fine’ appearance. So that begs the question, with only five years left to reach 2022, how many women are literally and metaphorically dead? Their voices are silenced.

God knows if anyone tried to say anything.
My point today is to remind women that as we register to vote, let us remember that no one else has our back but us. If we keep voting for people who forget our plight the moment they get into office, we will not win the struggle against gender-based violence. I mean, look at how long it is taking to pass the Sexual Offences and Domestic Violence Bill? Now, someone who does not live in fear may say it is selfish to vote for women so they can care for women’s issues, but what has voting for men done for us? I know that from childhood, women imbibe the notion that selfishness, like ambition, makes them unlikable and untrustworthy.
But how many times have we voted, again and again, for someone who forgets we exist the moment they start getting a fat cheque? My community voted for someone who retreated to his community the moment the last voter cast their vote, but I know if he were to magically appear again to poach votes, people wouldn’t hesitate to take him back to office. At the end of the day, the lack of awareness on why and for whom we should vote, coupled with hunger and poverty are the reasons why we are still a developing country, even after almost 50 years of independence.

 

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