Women need resources to run for office – Saboi
By Adrian Mwanza
NATIONAL Democratic Congress (NDC) president Saboi Imboela says women need resources to favourably compete with their male competitors in the August 13 general elections.
In an interview with The Mast, Imboela said most women were disadvantaged because they did not have enough money to match their male rivals competing for political office.
“I feel most women fail to avail themselves in leadership roles because they do not have enough resources to successfully mount a serious campaign,” she said.
Speaking during the launch of the Donation Button, a Non-Governmental Gender Organisation Coordinating Council (NGOCC) initiative aimed at raising resources for women aspiring for public office, Imboela said currently only 15 per cent of women were in Parliament.
She hailed the initiative was welcome because it would enable women to rise and compete favourably with men.
“My call is for the women folk to offer themselves for leadership since now they will be able to receive funding from NGOCC,” Imboela said.
She urged other women to come on board and offer solutions to various challenges the country was facing.
Imboela said several intelligent and powerful women could bring change in society if the political playing field were levelled.
She said elections were expensive to take part in and most women could not raise the required money.
“This project, known as ‘Her Time is Now,’ is good for the womenfolk who, for a long time, have been left behind because they do not have the resources to compete with men,” Imboela said.
NGOCC has opened account number 3016511999015 with Access Bank to receive donations from individuals, groups and corporate organisations meant to support women aspiring for public office in the August 13 general election.
