By Trevor Makonyonga
The Women’s Academy for Leadership and Political Excellence (WALPE) has partnered with local content creators, Bustop TV to produce a new series that will promote women’s participation in politics.In world demographics women are more than men yet occupy very few positions in the political scene.
The new drama series, Women All Parliament will focus on an August house whose seats are all occupied by females. In an interview, WALPE Executive Director Sithabile Dewa explained the series concept. She said, “Women have been denied equal rights since time immemorial, gender balance and their participation in leadership positions have been an uphill task. Now, imagine an all-female parliament, a parliament that will address the stereotypes that are associated with female leadership in Zimbabwe.
Women’s Academy for Leadership and Political Excellence (WALPE) in collaboration with BusTop TV, a top media and theatre company in Zimbabwe has brought this image to life through a play titled ‘Women All Parliament.”Dewa added that the play also focuses on political issues like public funds accountability and women’s access to land.”The play clearly shows how female leadership is progressive through the discussions of real issues like the accountability of public funds, women accessing land and prioritising sexual reproductive health and rights to mention but just a few.
The Women All Parliament is one that, regardless of political affiliation, women are united in tackling issues that make a country lag behind, they put their heads together, with the same positive energy and spirit to make sure that the country moves forward. With the Women All Parliament, access to social services, unpaid care and domestic work and Gender-Based Violence can be a thing of the past.
The play encourages women and girls that they can achieve whatever they want, and they can also be in top leadership positions despite their backgrounds.”Producer of the show, Lucky Aaroni echoed in what Dewa said. He said, “We partnered with WALPE on this pilot project. The project is meant to encourage the participation of women and imagen what could happen if women are in parliament. The potential of women in leadership I what is being focused on. The first episode is ready and will be out soon.”The play has a star-studded cast which includes Samantha “Gonyeti” Kureya, Sharon “Magi” Chideu Teddy Mangava, Sitshengisiwe Siziba, Cariline Mashingaidze, Jingo Mkwindidza, Eunice Tava and Chipo Bizure among others.
Written by Blessing Hungwe and directed by Dereck Nyizakwi, the play also shows the obstacles that women face when they are in leadership positions, but with their resilience and dedication, they manage to by-pass all these.
