Women in leadership in Africa: my vision for Burundian women--profile of Catherine Mabobori/Femmes leaders en Afrique: ma vision pour les femmes Burundaises--profil de Catherine Mabobori.

My name is Catherine Mabobori, aged 44. I am married with five children--three boys and two girls. The first one is 22 years old and the last is 9 years old. I have a bachelor degree in Literature with extensive knowledge of gender and development, peace and conflict resolution that I acquired through my involvement in civil society. I am a journalist by profession and practiced it for 10 years after completing my studies. In 1996, I was appointed to the Office of the Prime Minister as in charge of communication and external relations, and in 1998, to the Office of the Vice President with the same duties.

In 2000, I lost my position due to political changes in Burundi. However, after the signing of the peace agreement in August 2000, I immediately joined Parliament as a member of civil society because participation in parliament was extended to civil society representatives. Once in parliament, I joined Unite pour le Progres National (UPRONA), the political party I felt responded to most of my aspirations.

As a newcomer to party politics, I had to work hard. Fortunately, the party was open to women looking to gain political experience. My experience in women's organizations helped me very much. In the party, I became the National Secretary in charge of gender and the Spokeswoman of the party. So I often spoke on radio and appeared on TV with men from other political parties. That was how I began gaining the support of people.

The race for Parliament

By the time the parliamentary campaigns started in April 2005, my voice and ideas were not new to the people. My party is third in position at national level and it was not clear that it would be elected. My first struggle was therefore to position myself well for the elections. I managed to be at the top of the list in my constituency. My party won only one seat--mine! The party that won many parliamentary seats is the former rebel group, Conseil National pour la defense de la democratie--Forces pour la defense de la democratie (CNDD-FDD). I am happy I won a seat without taking up guns or supporting those who went to war, although they may have had good reasons. As a peace activist, I will always fight with my ideas, not with guns.

I now represent Ngozi constituency. Ngozi is a province in the North region of Burundi. It is the second largest constituency and has a big electorate.

Positive leadership

Although a member of parliament has a national mandate to represent all the citizens, women's...