Gender activists keep fingers crossed

They fought a long battle, one that transcends across the building blocks of international gender instruments. They fought it the long, hard way, well before official opening of Electoral Commission's official two months campaign period.
That was ridiculous because, though they classified their battle as some sort of neutral rhetoric, they were openly campaigning for women contesting in the May19, 2009 parliamentary and presidential elections.
On Tuesday, voting day, that neutrality turned into anxiety and anticipation. At least that is what could be derived from sentiments emanating from Malawian gender rights activists.
The gender activists, who may as well be accused of changing into women rights activists for their pro-women slanting (most of the activists are also women), said on Tuesday they were keeping their fingers crossed, in the hope that some big chunk of women could pass through the public confidence-holes through to parliament.
"We are anxious about the results. We have done a lot in raising the profile of our women and now is the time to see where we stand. Let women not despair because this is just the beginning; gender disparities cannot be done away with within a year," said Emmie Chanika, chairperson for NGO-Gender Coordination Network's Permanent Committee on Women in Politics.
Chanika said she, and the network, looked forward to some landslide victory for women, though they would hold their patience until results start trickling in.
She said she was "praying hard" that what we have been fighting for the past one year- which is the attainment of gender equality in leadership positions- comes to fruition.
"However, women should realize that we can not force people to vote for them; we only reason with people. That is the reason we are anxious for the results," said Chanika.
The way she talked, it was typical of a child who had a dream and is now afraid of the reality that may unfold.
The mood was reflected by Cecilia Mussa, executive director for Gender Support Programme (GSP). GSP is one of the organizations that received financial backing to promote the cause for Malawian women.
In Ntchisi, in Ntcheu, among other districts, the talk was the same: vote women in.
About 230 women went into the battle for parliament with their eyes open, knowing fully well the extent men can go just to retain what they have- castigation, violence-instigation, and money-politics. Because of their zeal, people like Mussa now want them to stay.
"That is only natural. You don't invest in failure. We only hope that the women who joined the race for parliament should remain in the counting but we can not influence the vote. We are just waiting, hopefully," said Mussa.
Over the past 12 months, she has built the capacity of over 70 women whose faces appeared on parliamentary ballots.
Even for Emma Kaliya, NGO-GCN's chair, Chamgomo (the network coordinator) and many others, the wish was one: women, women, and more women.
One of the contesting women, Blantyre-Kabula aspiring MP Jean Kamphale, said she equally looked forward to the results but could only wait because people were the best judge.
"Much as I would have loved to declare myself MP yesterday, I can only wait. I am excited right now, and praying that things turn out positive. It will be a victory for all women in Blantyre-Kabula," said Kamphale, who was contesting as an independent candidate.
She has braved the heat of men. In September last year, a group of thugs broke into her constituency office but, luckily, she was not in the office. They then just took what belonged to her in turn, breaking some of the things. Why?
"Because one of the men I was contesting against (in a party primary election for the constituency) though it would work out to frustrate me; how wrong he was!" said Kamphale.
So, for women like her- who have braved so much to turn their dream into some semblance of reality – to end up outside the imaginary side of parliament would be like throwing the bathtub with the child.
At least the gender activists reckon.

AEP/ Richard Chirombo