Hate speech in politics discouraging women participation

By ANN ZULU

CONTINUED hate speech among political parties is discouraging 

women from participating in politics, Zambia National Women’s Lobby chairperson Beauty Katebe has said.

Ms. Katebe charged that men had continued to dominate the political arena.

She said the women movement was concerned that only few women had taken the mantle to participate in politics.

She attributed hate speech among politicians as one of the contributing factors discouraging women from engaging in politics.

“It’s so sad that men are still dominating politics in Zambia and we feel that politics of hate speech has contributed to this because women love to be respected, and they do not want to get involved in something that will make them lose their respect and worthiness,” Ms Katebe said.

She reiterated that the political field in the country had been marred with hate speech, urging political parties to stop the vice.

She appealed to political parties to co-exist and live in harmony.

Ms. Katebe noted that if hate speech was stopped, more women would be interested in joining politics.

 “There is need for women to take part in politics and the whole electoral system. So we urge political parties to desist from hate speech and instead, co-exist.

“Women are scared of the being disrespected and violence that is likely to erupt every time cadres from different political parties meet because it affects them more than anyone else and they cannot even defend themselves from the brutality,” she said.

And Ms. Katebe called on women in politics not to feel intimidated, but showcase their worth, saying no one would give them leadership on a silver platter.

“What is depriving women leadership in this country is the syndrome that only men can lead. Who said to be a president in this county you must be a man?” she asked.