The rooster remains one of the most popular political symbols among African political parties. Maybe this is because the smattering of African women in high office are as rare as hens’ teeth.
Betting on who could become Africa’s first woman president ranks way below current wagering on whether the next pope will be an African. This says something about who still wears the pants.
South Africa celebrates Women’s Day on Monday, securely placed on the continent’s gender-correct role of honour. Women occupy more than a third of the seats in legislature and more than 40% of Cabinet posts.
As Minister of Foreign Affairs, Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma is one of the most high-profile women on the continent. She enjoys the unalloyed support of President Thabo Mbeki and support within her party.
Speculation that she might be Mbeki’s successor has been dismissed by some senior officials in the African National Congress, though some say that her hat is in the succession ring.
If the prospect of a woman’s hand on the tiller is taken so lightly in South Africa, how much less seriously is it regarded in the rest of the Africa?
“A woman president in Africa is a lot more likely now than it was 10 years ago. And it’s not such a scary idea,” says Colleen Lowe-Morna, director of Gender Links and editor of the book Ringing up the Change: Gender in Southern African Politics.
“Whether Africa is ready for a woman president is a very broad question and Africa is a complex continent. There may not be a simple answer,” says Lowe-Morna.
“What you would notice straight away is that countries are at very different stages with regards to women representatives in public life.
“In Southern Africa this ranges from 5,7% of women MPs in Mauritius to 32,8% in South Africa.”
There is a lot of variation between countries and where they are.
“If you were to ask is South Africa ready for a woman president, then the answer is it is a lot closer than it was 10 years ago,” says Lowe-Morna.
“Had you asked this question in 1994 or 1999, people would have looked at you with a slightly jaundiced expression. But this year it was not so hypothetical. The number three person in the ANC is a woman. Forty two percent of Cabinet ministers are women and we have had a woman acting as president in the absence of President Mbeki and Deputy President Jacob Zuma.
“As the succession debate starts to heat up it is not entirely out of the question to consider a woman as deputy president or even president.
“When speculation about a woman president started after 1999 it was regarded as quite revolutionary. The reality of our politics is that now it is not so hypothetical.
“South Africa is probably heading quite quickly in the direction of a woman president. People here are much more comfortable with women in decision-making positions.
“In certain quarters, probably within the Cabinet itself, people see women in terms of competence rather than gender. In Africa as a whole, one has to be quite country-specific. If you were to ask whether Zimbabwe is ready for a woman president, I would say capital N capital O.
“The tremendous political regression in that country has involved women and gender.
“Zimbabwe is one of the countries where the number of women in Parliament has actually declined.
“Mozambique has a woman Prime Minister — Luisa Dias Diogo. When it was announced in February, President Joachim Chissano made the strong point that she was appointed because she was competent, young and a woman. Mozambique has about 30% of women in its legislature.
“Uganda had a woman Deputy President in Specioza Kazibwe. There is an underlying link — a correlation — between a history of struggle and the place of women. I’m thinking of Namibia, Mozambique, South Africa, Eritrea, South Africa and Rwanda — which, incidentally has the highest ratio of women legislators in the world. Struggle combined with a progressive government has been the best for women’s advancement.
“The proportional-representation system has also been favourable to women.”
Lowe-Morna identified Tanzanian Gertrude Mongella, the president of the newly formed Pan African Parliament (PAP), as a woman capable of rising to the very top.
The African Union is ahead of the curve in term of gender quotas.
One-third of the PAP members have to be women and no fewer than half of the commissioners — effectively the cabinet of organisation — have to be women.
Independent journalist and African political analyst Stephanie Wolters says there is no doubt there are competent African women capable of becoming presidents.
“They head households and economic structures, so there is no problem with their capability. As to whether the public is ready for it, well it is certainly worth a try.
“Women on a day-to-day basis show leadership in running families and by merely suriving and making sure things get done.
“Africa is ready for good leaders and if they can be women, so much the better.”