-Lesotho’s Deputy Speaker, prominent Ugandan woman tell Liberians
By Jerromie S. Walters
Following their experiences from the conduct of Liberia’s October 10, 2023, legislative and presidential elections- Madam Tsepang Tsita-Mosena, the Deputy Speaker of Lesotho and Madam Mary Oduka Ochan, a prominent Ugandan say women effectuating efforts to ensure their ways on the national scene are confronted with dozens of challenges- one of which they say is the sad reality that there’s no policy to guarantee that their efforts might yield fruit.
Currently, there are 11 females out of the 103 lawmakers of the 54th National legislature of the Republic of Liberia. 9 female lawmakers are at the House of Representative, while there are only 2 females among the 30 Senators of the Liberian Senate.
We spoke with both Madam Tsepang Tsita-Mosena, and Madam Mary Oduka Ochan Thursday, October 12, 2023, in Monrovia. They have joined the Women’s Situation Room of Liberia to heighten calls for peace and report on the October 10, 2023, presidential and legislative elections.
In an exclusive interview with this paper- the prominent African women hailed Liberians for the turnout of the October 10, 2023, polls, but encouraged the need for more efforts to be asserted toward women political participation.
Unlike Madam Tsepang Tsita-Mosena’s country (Lesotho) that has special dispensation, she tells our reporter that women in Liberia are pushing their ways through without any genuine guarantee, especially one that will take them to the public’s sight.
This is because political parties have that repeatedly failed in affording women sufficient space on their tickets, especially in general elections. This was recently displayed when political parties in Liberia deliberately reneged on living up to a written 30% gender quota (Not mandatory) commitment they made to the National Elections Commission (NEC).
This, she believes adds to the many other challenges- and the fact that some women that don’t even feel comfortable enough to join the process.
In her opinion, this can only be addressed through the availability of law from the national legislature that mandates political parties to ensure a certain percentage of women on their tickets. In the absence of this, she says verbal and other written commitments will be toothless bulldogs.
However, she says political parties unwillingness to commit themselves to an increased women political participation
shouldn’t always be a problem, especially if the women are sufficient enough to push their issues.
Although the presence of a significant number of women at the legislature is apt- she thinks in other case it’s literally not about the huge number number of women, but the few that can push gender sensitive issues or issues that affects women and seek to benefit them. “A method of will”.
Commenting on the usual curiosity about women’s preparedness to ascend to the national scene, Madam Tsepang Tsita-Mosenasays- “Women are always prepare for anything.“
Howbeit- she admonished Liberian women in politics to embrace a stronger unity amongst themselves and ensure that they have a collective agenda.She encourages them to support each other. She encourages Liberians that women can do more if they are allowed to. “Women can deliver, women are positive alternative.”
At the same time- she wants the youth and women of Liberia to take ownership of national leadership of the country. This is because she says the two major candidates are being massively supported by the youth “Ownership needs to come to elections by youth and women”
As the National Elections Commission (NEC) continues with the pronouncement of results, Madam Tsepang Tsita-Mosena, the Deputy Speaker of Lesotho and Madam Mary Oduka Ochan, a prominent Ugandan have encouraged Liberian political actors to use the legal means to address their disputes, following the end of the elections results.
According to them, it shows their (electorate) interest in upholding democracy. Most of all, they have hailed Liberians for being peaceful throughout the voting process- but admitted that they are looking forward to more of such now and after the pronouncement of the final results.
With this- they have called on all political actors to ensure that are dissatisfaction are resolved and addressed though the legal means, following the announcement of the final results by the National Elections Commission (NEC). This is to avoid uncivil actions by politicians or their supporters.
Howbeit- she admonished Liberian women in politics to embrace a stronger unity amongst themselves and ensure that they have a collective agenda. She encourages them to support each other. She encourages Liberians that women can do more if they are allowed to. “Women can deliver, women are positive alternative.”
At the same time- she wants the youth and women of Liberia to take ownership of national leadership of the country. This is because she says the two major candidates are being massively supported by the youth “Ownership needs to come to elections by youth and women”
Concomitantly- Madam Mary Oduka Ochan, a prominent woman of the Women’s Situation Room of Uganda believes women that participated in the electoral process divided their votes, as such- it became a challenge for them to perform well.
With this, she says women movement must ensure that finance are made available for women to avoid them being supported by men. “We need to encourage women and the men, I will like to see more women.”
“She recommends the need for more education on the significance of women political participation.
Amid calls for women political participation and their ascendency to higher political positions- she says she tells Liberia that the strive must not only being about ensuring women political participation, but about getting women who will stand for their fellow women and push their issues (gender sensitive) when they are elected.
As one of the many women of the Women’s Situation Room of Uganda, she says they have had it twice (2016 and 2021). She adds that the Women’s Situation Room of Uganda presence made a difference. Considering the country’s troubling electoral experience, they set up the women situation room 2016.
At the same time, she hailed Liberians for the turnout, says it shows their interest. She hails the peacefulness of citizens. She applauds the fact that more young people participated in the electoral process.
