“Women Are Capable Of Managing Challenging Positions ”

  Hon. Emilia Monjowa, Deputy Speaker of the National Assembly.

What do you make of the increasing participation of women in the political and administrative affairs of the country?

I thank the Head of State for the political will of including more women in key decision making positions in Cameroon. The recent Presidential decree of March 02, 2018 in which some Members of Government were appointed, a lady (Prof Nalova Lyonga Pauline) was made Minister of Secondary Education. Besides the government, the number of women in the National Assembly and the Senate is encouraging. There is an electoral law which obliges every political party to consider gender aspects in the constitution of their list for legislative elections. During the drawing up of the list for Senatorial candidates of the Cameroon People’s Democratic Movement (CPDM) party, there was a stipulation that every list must at least have two women. As compared to previous years, women now occupy prominent positions in the judiciary, police, administration and at the elections management body. I am a typical example in whom the President of the Republic has invested confidence. He supported my investiture at the international level for the position of the Chairperson of the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association, which of course I was elected. Today, Cameroonians are very proud that one of theirs heads an association of 51 countries and 180 Parliaments. Just like Oliver Twist, we will keep asking for more positions given that we have confidently handled the challenging posts accorded to us in recent times.

What encouraging message do you have for women who are still less enthusiastic about politics?

Most often than not, men scare women from politics with the popular but unfounded slogan of “politics is a dirty game.” Women of integrity do not need to shy away from decision making positions due to such statements. Sacrifices need to be made at certain stages in life to obtain optimal results. There is no rose without a torn. All you need to do is simply pick up the rose carefully from the thorns and enjoy its sweetness. That’s exactly how administration and politics need to be managed. Every sphere has difficulties and intricacies, however, one ...