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The Director General of the United Nations Office in Nairobi, Zainab Hawa Bangura, believes the path to electing a female president in Sierra Leone begins with reforming political party structures in the country.
In a recent interview with Truth Media, Bangura stressed that women should not be chosen to lead based solely on their gender but on their capability and ability to lead. She argued that the foundation for female leadership at the highest level of government must be built within the political parties themselves.
“I believe that the road to having a female president in Sierra Leone starts with the political party structures. Women should be appointed to positions of authority within these parties—whether as chairpersons, secretaries general, or in other key roles,” Bangura stated.
She added that seeing women in such leadership positions would not only demonstrate their competence but also inspire confidence among the electorate. “When people see women occupying these important positions, it will give others the faith and strength to believe that women can rise to the presidency,” she said.
Bangura, a former Sierra Leonean Health Minister and international gender advocate, expressed her support for all women contesting presidential elections in Sierra Leone, wishing them success in their efforts.
“The goal is not just to elect a woman because she is a woman, but to ensure that women who aspire to lead have the experience, strength, and credibility to do so,” she concluded.
Her comments underscore the need for a systematic and structural shift in how political parties in Sierra Leone approach gender equality, signaling a call for greater representation of women in the nation’s political landscape.
