Africa, Civil Society, Gender, Headlines, Human Rights

POLITICS-MAURITIUS: Women Still Seeking the Political Kingdom

Nasseem Ackbarally

PORT-LOUIS , Sep 16 2008 (IPS) - Mauritius – along with Botswana, Malawi and Madagascar – did not sign the Gender Protocol at the Southern African Development Community (SADC) summit in August. While the island nation has made some recent progress in political representation of women at the level of Parliament, much remains to be done to allow women to enjoy their full rights in the political arena.

Mauritius is expected to sign the Gender Protocol soon; the country will have its work cut out for it to meet the target of 30 percent women at all levels of government by 2015.

In July 2005, the three big alliances that run the political show on the island – the Alliance Sociale of Prime Minister Navin Ramgoolam, the Mouvement Militant Mauricien (MMM) of Paul Bérenger and the Mouvement Socialiste Militant (MSM) of Pravind Jugnauth – put forward only 13 women candidates, out of a total of 180 standing for election.

Twelve of these 13 women were elected. Two of them have been assigned ministerial jobs: Sheilabai Bappoo is Social Security and National Solidarity Minister and Indira Seebun is Women and Family Welfare Minister. Kalyanee Juggoo is the Deputy Government Whip.

These women represent a tiny minority of women who have maintained the tremendous drive necessary to pursue a career in politics in Mauritius.

Women are active on all the fronts during election campaigns – door to door canvassing, organising meetings, mobilising supporters for rallies, distributing leaflets and tracts, sticking posters, placing banners on the road and even cooking for the candidates, agents and others.

Yet, very few ask for and get a ticket for themselves to stand as candidates.

"There is a patriarchal culture here that pervades the whole political system and makes men fight for tickets like vultures," says researcher Sheila Bunwaree-Ramharai from the Faculty of Social Sciences at the University of Mauritius. "How can women fit into that?"

Political leaders often claim women do not come forward to claim their place in politics. Bunwaree disagrees, citing a hostile environment that prevents women from succeeding in the political arena.

Member of parliament Kalyanee Juggoo agrees with Bunwaree that most male politicians are hostile to their female counterparts. "They consider that the females are out to take their place," she says.

Yet Juggoo says she has not personally experienced any major problems with men in two decades as an activist or in her three years in parliament. But she denounces men who distribute tracts on the private life of women candidates.

"They say that this one has killed her husband by pouring hot water over him and that one sleeps around with men, just to prevent them from being elected. And people believe them," the Deputy Government Whip feels. "They'll never do such nasty things with males," she observes.

Societal attitudes

"As Hindus, how do you think we can let our women get on a truck and address several thousand men at public gatherings? It is not good either for them to go out at night to do campaigning ," declares Vikash, a member of a Hindu religious movement who preferred not to give his last name.

But Juggoo, herself a Hindu woman, insists that women – and their husbands and families – should be strong enough to overcome negative attitudes an smear tactics if they want to pursue a career in politics.

"We are not asking any Hindu or Muslim woman to leave her religion or culture; we are just encouraging them to come forward and contribute politically, economically and socially towards the progress of the country."

Though many are interested in politics, few well-educated Hindu and Muslim women will risk their standing in their community being damaged. In the island's Muslim community, religious leaders block Muslim women from entering politics due to a narrow conception of a woman's role in society.

"There is a triangular rapport between women, religion and politics that clumsily defines the place of the latter in the society", one Muslim woman from the capital, observes anonymously. Many other women told IPS that they think politics is, above all, a man's affair.

Women who overcome these obstacles to stand as candidates do not always show solidarity with each other. On several occasions, particularly during election campaigns, this correspondent has witnessed scenes where the women activists and candidates exchange the same insults me sling at them.

"Instead of becoming allies to promote their cause, they humiliate themselves with foul remarks like 'Go and find a husband for yourself' or 'You are unable to bear children'," says Juggoo.

Quotas may be the way forward

How will Mauritius achieve better gender representation in politics? Like many elsewhere on the continent, Bunwaree and other Mauritian gender activists believe a quota is the strongest solution to end this long-standing discrimination.

Sandhya Boygah has been vice-president of the Pamplemousses/Rivière du Rempart District Council, in the north of the island, for two years and has had a very tough time with her male counterparts.

"I have never been able to make the Council accept any of my development projects, however good they were. The 34 men out of the 36 Councillors always told me you have got very good project, Madam, but you see we are short of funds and we cannot approve them. But it is another matter when it comes to projects submitted by males," she emphasises.

Behind every successful man there is a woman, Boygah observes, and the male politician takes care to keep the woman precisely there – at his back. She does not believe a quota will be imposed any time, "as the political party willing to introduce a quota for women is yet to be born in Mauritius."

Women and family welfare minister Seebun has been in politics for 13 years; she says she does not see women being discriminated against at any level in Mauritius. "I'd prefer to say that they hesitate a lot. They should be less timid and venture out," she adds.

The Minister feels that men are willing to support women but it rests on women themselves to become successful in any field, be it political, entrepreneurial or others.

Mayila Paroomal, Senior Lecturer at the University of Mauritius finds that political parties seem interested in tackling the gender issue and willing to work for greater participation by women in politics.

"We have started to have some women as Mayors in some towns and even some women ministers, and not just holding the post of Minister for Women as in the past," Paroomal comments.

There has been some progress on gender issues in several fields in Mauritius, she says, pointing out that there are women heading several faculties at the university. There is also a woman pro-vice-chancellor.

Paroomal feels the Equal Opportunities Act that is under preparation will further improve the chances of women in the professional and political fields. They are entering many previously all-male fields – Mauritian women are found working as bus conductors, cleaners and watchmen; playing football and cycling; there even some Hindu women priests.

But on the political front, Bunwaree sees a big catastrophe waiting for woman politicans at the next general election in 2010 because of the alliances that are being negotiated presently between the big and small parties. The chances for women to get on the ticket are being reduced, as leaders of the parties concerned look to satisfy demands for balanced ethnic representation first.