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The Global Gender Equality Constitutional Database is a repository of gender equality related provisions in 194 constitutions from around the world. The Database was updated in partnership with the International Bar Association's Human Rights Institute (IBAHRI) and with support from the Swedish International Development Agency (SIDA) and the Government of Japan. Experience its wealth and depth of information by starting your search now.
National level
- English
(1) An Act of Parliament must provide for the conduct of elections and referendums to which this Constitution applies, and in particular for the following matters—
…
(d) a system of proportional representation for the election of persons to the seats in the Senate referred to in section 120(1)(a) and the seats reserved for women in the National Assembly referred to in section 124(1)(b), and the procedure for filling vacancies in those seats, which vacancies must be filled by persons—
(i) belonging to the same political parties as those who previously held the seats; and
(ii) of the same gender as the persons who previously held the seats;
…
(2) The system of proportional representation provided for in terms of subsection (1)(d) must ensure equal representation of women among the Senators referred to in section 120(1)(a).
… (Sec. 157)
National level
- English
(1) The National Assembly consists of—
(a) two hundred and ten members elected by secret ballot from the two hundred and ten constituencies into which Zimbabwe is divided; and
(b) for the life of the first four Parliaments after the effective date, an additional sixty women members, six from each of the provinces into which Zimbabwe is divided, elected through a system of proportional representation based on the votes cast for candidates representing political parties in a general election for constituency members in the provinces.
(c) a further additional ten youth members, that is, persons aged from twenty-one to thirtyfive years of age, one from each of the provinces into which Zimbabwe is divided, elected under a party-list system of proportional representation—
(i) which is based on the votes cast for candidates representing political parties in a general election for constituency members in the provinces; and
(ii) in which male and female candidates are listed alternately:
Provided that political parties must ensure that—
(a) ten of the sixty women members are under the age of thirty-five;
(b) women with disabilities are represented on their party lists; and
(c) young women with disabilities are represented on their party lists in terms of an Act of Parliament.
… (Sec. 124)
National level
- English(1) The Senate consists of eighty Senators, of whom—
(a) six are elected from each of the provinces into which Zimbabwe is divided, by a system of proportional representation conforming with subsection (2);
(b) sixteen are Chiefs, of whom two are elected by the provincial assembly of Chiefs from each of the provinces, other than the metropolitan provinces, into which Zimbabwe is divided;
(c) the President and Deputy President of the National Council of Chiefs; and
(d) two are elected in the manner prescribed in the Electoral Law to represent persons with disabilities.
(2) Elections of Senators must be conducted in accordance with the Electoral Law, which must ensure that the Senators referred to in subsection (1)(a) are elected under a party-list system of proportional representation—
(a) which is based on the votes cast for candidates representing political parties in each of the provinces in the general election for Members of the National Assembly; and
(b) in which male and female candidates are listed alternately, every list being headed by a female candidate. (Sec. 120)
National level
- English(1) The State must promote full gender balance in Zimbabwean society, and in particular—
…
(b) the State must take all measures, including legislative measures, needed to ensure that—
(i) both genders are equally represented in all institutions and agencies of government at every level; and
(ii) women constitute at least half the membership of all Commissions and other elective and appointed governmental bodies established by or under this Constitution or any Act of Parliament;
… (Sec. 17)