130 years. That’s how long it would take to achieve gender equality in political leadership in Southern Africa at the current pace, according to the latest findings by the Electoral Support Network of Southern Africa (ESN-SA).

Women make up 52–54% of the population in most SADC countries, yet remain systematically under-represented in political decision-making—holding only around 30% of parliamentary seats, with just two countries led by female presidents.

The Gender Checklist for free and credible elections in SADC is a practical tool developed by ESN-SA to assess whether elections are free, credible, and genuinely inclusive of women. It integrates gender equality at every stage of the electoral cycle—before, during, and after elections—by examining how laws, institutions, political parties, and electoral practices shape women’s participation as voters, candidates, leaders, and decision-makers.

What is holding Southern African women in politics back—and what can be done to change it?