Many women faced financial problems in their bid to launch political campaigns. Entrenched traditional practices and selective education in families promote male children and their advancement in comparison to females, resulting in the skewed proportion of women in government and political party structures. Women who participated in politics were demonised as loose, coarse and lacking in the refinement expected of respectable women. Women who participated in politics and elections are constantly subjected to sexual harassment. Some women were conservative and preferred to elect males rather than support women politicians and candidates. Women multi task as wives, mothers, employees and have primary responsibility for home management so cannot afford lengthy absences from home while in pursuit of political office. Women who were successful in elections on the basis of affirmative action or quotas were labelled “bacossi” (referring to free or cheap commodities availed during the economic crisis) or zvipopi (referring to puppies with more bark than bite!) Women suggested that some women are paid by contesting males to denigrate and undermine female candidates by spreading malicious rumours and gossip about them. These are the weapons of people who are disempowered in mainstream society. Women suggested that funds disbursed to parties that have garnered at least 5% of the vote should be distributed transparently amongst candidates so that women candidates are not short-changed. Some party leaders did not inform candidates how much money had been disbursed by government to political parties. [ 2 [