Home > Gender, Women's Studies > Vol 1 No 1 June 2013 Abstract 3
Traditional Leadership Systems and Gender Recognition: Zimbabwe.
Obediah Dodoi
International Journal of Gender and Women’s Studies, 1(1), pp. 29-44.

Abstract
Africa in general and Zimbabwe in particular have been thriving under traditional leadership systems that were mainly dominated by men since time immemorial. These systems controlled human behaviour, resource utilization and the general political and religious domains. These leadership systems were also to some extent, responsible for the pathetic conditions of women even up to this day. This paper therefore sought to discuss traditional governance systems with a view to understanding governance best practices and how gender equality may be incorporated meaningfully. The study noted that women have always been part of the traditional leadership though they have been behind the scenes. Wherever they were on the drivers’ seat, they excelled. It was also observed that democratic governance could be improved by way of integrating the best out of both the traditional and modern systems of leadership and governance.

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Dodoi, Obediah. (2013). Traditional Leadership Systems and Gender Recognition: Zimbabwe. International Journal of Gender and Women’s Studies, 1(1), pp. 29-44.

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i The author is also a human rights activist who has been a „political prisoner‟ for 35 days in 2012 for authoring Political Intolerance, Diversity and Democracy: Youth Violence in Bindura Urban, Zimbabwe. American International Journal of Contemporary Research Vol. 2/6 June 2012 (p. 134-143).

ii The two cases were reported in the ZBC-run media institutions; The Herald and Radio Zimbabwe in 2011 and 2012 respectively. The chief‟s rape case is still in the courts of law.

iii Pan African Women‟s Conference for Peace and Non-violence sponsored by UNESCO in Zanzibar calling for the recognition of women‟s efforts and initiatives to resolve conflicts and promote peace on the continent.

Obediah Dodo is a Lecturer in the Department of Peace and Governance at Bindura University of Science Education, Zimbabwe. He specialises in Conflict Resolution and Governance studies. He joined Bindura University in 2011 from the Zimbabwe Open University (ZOU) where he was the Peace and Conflict resolution Studies Programme Leader at the National Centre. At ZOU, he spearheaded the development of a Masters degree in Peace and Conflict Resolution culminating into the publication of over 15 modules in the area of Peace and Development Studies. For 16 years, Obediah was an Intelligence officer with the Central Intelligence Organisation, Zimbabwe where he specialised in governance matters before resigning in 2010. Obediah has published over 15 papers in the area of Conflict resolution and has conducted several researches in conflict resolution and youth violence. Obediah Dodo, a PhD candidate at Lusaka University, Zambia holds a Master’s degree in Peace and Governance from Africa University, a BA in Communications, Diplomas in Security, Journalism, Management and several certificates in Intelligence security.
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