CHAPTER 8 WOMEN’S RIGHTS Women constitute over 52% of the Zimbabwe population. Gender equality is a founding value in terms of section 3 of the Constitution, as is the recognition of the rights of women. In terms of section 17 of the Constitution, the State must promote full gender balance in society, and promote the full participation of women in all spheres of society based on equality with men. In terms of section 56 of the Constitution, all persons are equal before the law and have the right to equal protection and benefit of the law. Section 80 of the Constitution requires that every woman has full and equal dignity of the person with men and this includes equal opportunities in political, economic and social activities. Affirmative measures are also mandated. Zimbabwe is a state party to the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW) which is largely domesticated in the stated constitutional provisions. it difficult to contest in the elections. According to the Women in Politics Support Unit (WiPSU), female nominees made up less than 15% of the candidates for the National Assembly elections. Traditional, cultural and patriarchal attitudes resulted in female candidates facing vitriolic gender-based insults regarding appearance, sexual proclivity, and other gender-based stereotypes and faced challenges within their party if running against a male candidate in a primary election. Participation in Elections In the 2018 elections, women participated both as voters and election candidates. Four female presidential candidates competed with 19 men in the 30 July election: former vice president Joice Mujuru of the People’s Rainbow Coalition, former deputy prime minister Thokozani Khupe of the MDC-T, Melbah Dzapasi of the #1980 Freedom Movement Zimbabwe, and Violet Mariyacha of United Democratic Movement. However, in comparison to men, women found Women and men waiting to vote in the July 2018 elections 38 STATE OF HUMAN RIGHTS REPORT ZIMBABWE 2018