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Zimbabwean Women Give Thumbs-Down to Country's National Unity Government


The survey by the Research and Advocacy Unit and the Women's Coalition of Zimbabwe found that 85 percent of the 2,000 women polled did not think that the government represented them as they were not consulted on its formation

A new survey has found that Zimbabwean women are largely dissatisfied with the country's inclusive government because they feel that it has not improved their lives.

The poll by the Research and Advocacy Unit and the Zimbabwe Women’s Coalition, among other groups, found 85 percent of the 2,000 women surveyed said the government did not represent them as they were not consulted when it was put in place in February 2009 based on a 2008 Global Political Agreement.

Fifty-two percent of the women polled said they had experienced political violence and 16 percent said they knew someone who had been raped in their community.

Carried out late last year, the survey found 51 percent of respondents backing Prime Minister Tsvangirai - but 74 percent said President Robert Mugabe had more power in the current unity government.

Women’s Program Manager Kudakwashe Chitsike of the Research and Advocacy Unit said there is little confidence among Zimbabwean women that the government can deliver much more than food, health care and education.

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