By John Kelly Marah
At the Ministry of Information and Civic Education’s weekly press briefing at the Miatta Conference Hall, Youyi Building in Freetown, Hon. Mariama Munia Zombo of Pujehun District—also Public Relations Officer of the Parliamentary Female Caucus—delivered a passionate call for deeper gender reforms to expand women’s space in politics.
Hon. Zombo praised women’s contributions across households, the economy, and community development, but lamented that political representation remains far below expectations. “Globally, women continue to make up just a small fraction of political leadership, often less than five percent in some places,” she said. “Here in Sierra Leone, we have made progress, but we must not settle—we need deliberate reforms to close the gap.”
She credited the proportional representation (PR) system used in the 2023 elections for boosting female participation. Before PR, women occupied only 12–13 percent of seats in Parliament. After the reforms, women’s representation rose to 30.4 percent—28.2 percent elected directly, with additional members appointed to meet the threshold.
“This shows that the system works,” she stressed. “Without proportional representation and gender-sensitive laws, women would still be on the margins of decision-making. We must keep pushing to protect and expand these gains.”
Hon. Zombo also highlighted reforms such as the Gender Equality and Women’s Empowerment (GEWE) Act, which mandates 30 percent women’s representation in both public and private appointments. Together with the Political Parties Act and Public Elections Act, these laws aim to dismantle barriers that have historically sidelined women.
But she warned that challenges remain. “Politics is expensive. Men often have more access to financial trade, while women and young people are left behind. If we want true democracy, we must support women with not only laws but also resources.”
She pointed to countries like Rwanda, which leads globally with over 60 percent female lawmakers due to constitutional quotas, while Cuba and Finland also stand out thanks to deliberate frameworks. “These examples show us what is possible when governments act with intention,” she said. “If Sierra Leone is serious about equality, then we must adopt stronger quotas and ensure parties comply with them.”
Responding to those who say gender quotas are discriminatory, she countered: “Women have historically been disadvantaged not by nature but by systems that favor men. Correcting that imbalance through legislation is not discrimination—it is justice.”
Hon. Zombo made it clear that the current 30.4 percent should be seen as a steppingstone, not a finish line. She called for raising the minimum to 40 percent in the short term, with the long-term goal of achieving full parity.
“Equal representation is about building an inclusive society where women and men together drive democracy, development, and empowerment. When women are left out, the nation loses half of its potential,” she said.
Her call echoed demands from gender advocates and civil society groups across Sierra Leone, who stress that beyond laws, women need financial support, training, and safe political spaces.
For now, Hon. Zombo’s words add momentum to Sierra Leone’s gender equality drive. The real test, observers note, lies in whether government and political parties transform rhetoric into lasting structural change.
