Zimbabwe

National Assembly Senate

Senate

Political system
Presidential-Parliamentary
Structure of parliament
Bicameral
IPU membership
Yes
»

Data on women

Information on the current and historical representation of women in the parliament. Consult the 'Elections' tab to see how women have fared in elections or renewals.

Current representation

Women's representation in the current parliament or chamber

Current number of members
71
Women
35
Percentage of women
49.3%

Speaker

Speaker
Mabel M. Chinomona (Female)
Date of birth: 21 Jan 1958
Additional information

Elected on 11 Sep. 2018, re-elected on 8 Sep. 2023.

Secretary general

No information available

Chairs of specialized bodies

Specialized body Theme Name Sex Age
Thematic Committee on Gender and Development Gender equality S. Ncube Female -

Data on age at the start of the legislature

Number of members, by age (2023-09)
Breakdown of members by age and gender
18 - 20 21 - 30 31 - 40 41 - 45 46 - 50 51 - 60 61 - 70 71 - 80 81 - 90 91 and over Totals per gender
Male 0 0 0 0 2 7 9 5 2 0 25
Female 0 0 0 2 1 12 13 7 0 0 35
Totals per age interval 0 0 0 2 3 19 22 12 2 0 60
Total <= 45: 2 Total >= 46: 58
Percentage of members, by age
Age at the last election or renewal Overall Male Female
Percentage of MPs 30 years of age or younger
0.0% 0.0% 0.0%
Percentage of MPs 40 years of age or younger
0.0% 0% 0.0%
Percentage of MPs 45 years of age or younger
3.3% 0% 3.3%
Members for whom age data is not available
20
(2023-09)

Reserved seats and quotas

There are reserved seats in parliament for certain groups
Yes

Notes:

Two seats in the 80-member Senate are reserved for persons with disabilities (one for a male and one for a female representative). They are to be elected by the Electoral College for Persons with a Disability.

Source:

Article 120 (1) (d) of the Constitution of Zimbabwe Amendment (No. 2) Act, 2021. The law was adopted by the National Assembly on 20 April 2021, and by the Senate on 4 May 2021. It was enacted by the President of the Republic, and entered into force on 7 May 2021. Articles 45 and 45A of the Electoral Amendment Act, 2023 entered into force on 19 July 2023.

Electoral quota for women
Yes

Notes: Each list of candidates submitted by political parties for the Senate must list candidates of both genders alternately. Every list must be led by a female candidate.

Sources: Articles 120 (1) (a) and (2) (b) of the Constitution of Zimbabwe Amendment (No. 2) Act, 2021. The law was adopted by the National Assembly on 20 April 2021, and by the Senate on 4 May 2021. It was enacted by the President of the Republic, and entered into force on 7 May 2021.

First woman in parliament

Year of first woman in parliament
1980

First woman speaker

Year of first woman speaker
2005

Women’s suffrage

Date of independence
1980
Women’s right to vote
No information available
Restricted or universal suffrage
Restricted
Detail of restrictions
European men and women only
Women’s right to vote
1957
Restricted or universal suffrage
Restricted
Women’s right to vote
1980
Restricted or universal suffrage
Universal

Notes: Prior to independence, women were granted the right to vote under the following restrictions: Between 1919 and 1957, only men and European women could vote. In 1957, a qualified right to vote was extended to black married women. A wife was deemed to have the same means of qualifications as her husband, but in the case of a polygamous marriage, this privilege only applied to the first wife. Wives were required to have literacy in English and any educational qualifications in their own right. In order to be registered as a general voter, a person had to have one of four alternative qualifications: (i) income of £ 720 per annum or ownership or immovable property valued at £ 1,500; (ii) income of £ 3,480 per annum or ownership of immovable property valued at £ 1,000 plus the completion of a primary course of education of prescribed standard; (iii) being a minister of religion, who had undergone certain stipulated training and periods of service in the Ministry and who followed no other profession, trade or gainful occupation; (iv) being a chief as defined in the Act.

Women's right to stand for election
1980
Restricted or universal
Universal

Notes: Prior to independence, women were granted the right to vote and stand for election under the following restrictions: Between 1919 and 1957, only men and European women could vote. In 1957, a qualified right to vote was extended to black married women. A wife was deemed to have the same means of qualifications as her husband, but in the case of a polygamous marriage, this privilege only applied to the first wife. Wives were required to have literacy in English and any educational qualifications in their own right. In order to be registered as a general voter, a person had to have one of four alternative qualifications: (i) income of £ 720 per annum or ownership or immovable property valued at £ 1,500; (ii) income of £ 3,480 per annum or ownership of immovable property valued at £ 1,000 plus the completion of a primary course of education of prescribed standard; (iii) being a minister of religion, who had undergone certain stipulated training and periods of service in the Ministry and who followed no other profession, trade or gainful occupation; (iv) being a chief as defined in the Act.

Women's caucus

Women's caucuses or parliamentary groups that bring together women parliamentarians to strengthen cooperation and amplify their voices. For other parliamentary bodies or committees that have a specific mandate to address gender equality matters, see the ‘Specialized body – Gender equality’ tab.

Historical data for IPU membership

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Historical data for IPU membership
Year IPU membership
2020-09
List of values for 2020-09
No
2019-04
List of values for 2019-04
No
2018-06
List of values for 2018-06
No