BY DELISA THWALA
MBABANE – The Women and Law in Southern Africa-Swaziland (WLSA) has shown joy over the nomination process that took place over the weekend.
It is known that, WLSA takes the issue of women participation as an important aspect of their work in promoting and advocating for gender equality and equity at all levels as provided for in the Constitution of Eswatini and such commitment further demonstrated in different policies and recent legislation.
WLSA National Director Sizakele Hlatshwayo congratulated all women and youth who were nominated over the weekend and said women often face barriers to their effective participation in the electoral process as voters, candidates, journalists, electoral administrators or civil society representatives, among other capacities.
“Their participation rights are frequently undermined by cultural expectations and social norms, exclusion from male-dominated decision-making platforms, lack of financial resources, restricted access to information and knowledge, discrimination and widespread violence,”
“Throughout the electoral cycle, a wide range of stakeholders can commit to promoting gender equality and women’s participation in their respective action fields, including political parties, electoral management bodies, civil society, election observers, the media, international electoral assistance providers and many others,” she said.
An impressive number of women were nominated under various categories during the nomination process over the weekend.
Amongst those nominated were Thobde Masimula (39), who has been nominated for the position of MP.
This will be the second time running as she contested in the 2008-13 elections but was unfortunate as she lost out.
She said she humbled by the nomination and was ready to contest. This is despite that she will be contesting against two former Members of Parliament.
Other women nominated included Bethu Wilson for Nkhaba, Fikile Msweli for Mhlume, Penelope Dlamini for Nkhaba and Sizolwethu Dube for Lobamba among others.
