The policy seeks to empower women, youth, people living with disability and those based in very rural areas to contest for leadership positions for the party and at a national level. For example, 30% of leadership positions in key structures of the party are allocated to women. Women, youth, people living with disability and those from very rural areas also pay a significantly reduced fee to take part in the BCP primaries. The policy also affords affirmative action target groups, greater campaign resources than other candidates at the general election.
This week Saleshando told Mmegi that based on recent trends, it is not wide off the mark to suggest that the policy has not produced the needed results, most notably in terms of encouraging more women to challenge for parliamentary positions. The BCP leader partly referenced the recent party primaries held in nine constituencies across the country. Only one woman contested the parliamentary primaries for Palapye and lost. A hypothetical analysis also shows that few women participated at the primaries at a government level. The second round of the BCP primaries will be held in December 2023 and suggestions are that few women are likely to contest given the current trend. “I have to admit that the results of the affirmative action policy are far from satisfactory. It is, however, reflective of the national trend. Women are less keen to take leadership positions. When it comes to parliamentary positions, it becomes apparent,” Saleshando told Mmegi.
