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In the 12 years since Liberia’s Ellen Johnson Sirleaf became Africa’s first elected woman leader, she’s been repeatedly hailed as a feminist force for change. But, writes Robtel Pailey, Sirleaf’s record on women’s issues is actually rather mixed and this will be reflected on the country’s upcoming ballot papers.
Zimbabwe goes to the polls next year. But, the election is likely to see a repeat of past rigged results, which entrench President Robert Mugabe and the Zanu-PF’s rule. Transformed electoral processes are urgently needed. But, Enock C. Mudzamiri doubts that this can be achieved before the election.
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Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf’s record on women’s rights has been mixed.
REUTERS/Tiksa Negeri
Robtel Neajai Pailey, University of Oxford
The international media and her supporters continue to hoist Liberian President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf up as the matron of African women's rights. But she does not deserve this title.
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Politics + Society
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Enock C. Mudzamiri, University of South Africa
Zimbabwe's ZANU PF sees itself as having brought democracy too the country and will not leave power. Unless civil society succeeds in pressing for change, the 2018 elections will bring none.
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Science + Technology
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Nox Makunga, Stellenbosch University
Women can often draw attention to dimensions of thinking that their male perspective may miss. But this will only work if they are in positions that allow them to lead and drive the research agenda.
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Health + Medicine
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Alex Ezeh, African Population and Health Research Center; Nelson Sewankambo, Makerere University; Peter Piot, London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine
Sub-Saharan countries have unprecedented opportunities to substantially improve health outcomes within a generation, largely with their own resources.
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