There is no democracy without women. Political participation is not just about voting on election day. It is also about debating freely, making your voice heard in day-to-day politics, influencing decisions about the future of your community, running for office, and protesting. Three months after the election in Zimbabwe, Sakhile Sifelani from Women in Politics Support Unit and former Masvingo councillor Elizabeth Ncube discuss women’s political participation before, during and after. Were women heard in the pre-election debates? Were they able to participate as voters, candidates and politicians at the local and national levels? In a country where elections are usually characterized by violence, were they able to do so peacefully? Was this election different to previous ones in regard to women’s political participation? And what are the prospects for Zimbabwean democracy looking ahead?