64 Zvobgo and Dziva/African Women’s Rights Protocol in Zimbabwe in appointed offices, including in Cabinet.21 These statistics speak volumes about the impediments that women continue to face in wrestling for elected and appointed party and government positions. Previous attempts to evaluate the domestic impact of African Women’s Rights Protocol have tended to focus on the Protocol as a whole.22 These studies hail the Protocol’s declaration on socioeconomic and political participation only in passing, without an indepth analysis of the extent at which specific provisions of the Protocol have been implemented at the national level.23 This study discusses the importance and practices for implementing article 9 of the Protocol, and the persisting hindrances to women’s participation in public life in Zimbabwe. Additionally, the article offers measures that Zimbabwe and other state parties to the Protocol can take to ensure equal representation and participation of women in the public sphere. Although the article focuses on Zimbabwe, other African countries with similar contexts may find the article helpful. It is anticipated that state parties, civil society, and key institutions for human rights advancements within the AU, notably the African Commission, and Solidarity for African Women’s Rights Coalition, the African Women’s Development and Communications Network, may find this article strategic in their quest to ensure women’s political rights. Chronologically this contribution starts with this introduction and background section, followed by a discussion on the importance of article 9 of the African Women’s Rights Protocol. Thereafter, the article analyses the practices employed by Zimbabwe in implementing article 9 of the Protocol. Afterwards, the article discusses some persisting obstacles to women’s political participation and representation in decision-making. Lastly, the article summarises its findings and proffers suggestions for equal participation and representation of women. Methodologically, this article adopts a qualitative methodology as informed by historical and descriptive designs. The article heavily relies on literature review of books, journals, reports, newspaper articles, and opinions of seasoned women politicians and individuals within civil society organisations advancing women’s rights in Zimbabwe. 2 CONCEPT AND IMPORTANCE OF ARTICLE 9 OF THE WOMEN’S RIGHTS PROTOCOL Article 9 of the African Women’s Rights Protocol speaks of the fundamental elements of participative democracy at public level, in the following terms: 1. States Parties shall take specific positive action to promote participative governance and the equal participation of women in the political life of their 21 22 23 Gender Links (as above). Kombo et al (n 10 above); Ayeni (n 10 above) 281-296. Kombo et al (as above).