BANGACITFWA BO BUTHELEZI

Whether you are 15 years old or 50, your outlook towards life is always under construction.” This is how psychologist John Maxwell remarked when describing how negative attitude could keep us imprisoned for long, until we choose to release ourselves.

I find this assertion relevant this week after painstakingly listening to parliamentarians’ debate against the ongoing ‘Vote for women’ campaign. I have spoken out about this topic because I am passionate about it. 

I am a firm believer in the notion that women are as capable as men in as far as occupying office in decision-making positions.
I accept that my outlook to the matter might be blurred by the passion I have confessed earlier about gender equality, especially in politics.

I am among those who are fed up with the majority of male parliamentarians who with each passing day demonstrate a self-serving attitude in the august House.

I was shocked at their attitude towards the vote for women issue, despite that it has even been embraced and advocated for, by no less a person in His Majesty King Mswati III and Her Majesty the Indlovukazi.

This is a constitutional issue that warrants every space in the public interest spectrum. Swaziland is a signatory to the SADC Gender Protocol, which started at 30/50 quota to a now 50/50 men and women representation in decision-making positions.
Studies have been conducted and have proven in clearer terms how the gender disparities have had negative impact on social-economic growth of nations.

Parliamentarians should not just know this, but we expect them to embrace it wholeheartedly. But what, with the likes of MP Phila Buthelezi of Matsanjeni East, who had the audacity to question why the office of the chief justice was adhering to this national call of hiring deserving women in decision-making positions within the Judiciary.

It is parliamentarians’ role to cause the other two arms of government to account on their operations.
However, to question the appointment and or hiring of people only on the basis of their gender amounts to discrimination of the highest order by individuals who have the mandate of the people. They were elected by the people and surely they should advance the wishes of those who elected them. 
And it is not far-fetched to suggest that the majority of those who elected them are the very same women they are degrading in Parliament.

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