Churches hailed for promoting gender equality and equity

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The Minister of Women’s Affairs, Hon Sithembiso Nyoni has commended an interdenominational organisation, Council for Churches in Africa (CCA) for leading various initiatives that promote gender equity and equality.

She was the guest speaker at CCA’s National Women’s Conference in Kwekwe on Friday.

Addressing hundreds of women drawn from the country’s 10 provinces, Minister Nyoni acknowledged the organisation’s efforts in addressing gender equity and equality.

“We really appreciate the organisation’s efforts in helping the government’s policy on gender since church leaders are also playing an important part in addressing both gender equity and equality.

“With the promotion of women amongst our indigenous churches, therefore, the CCA has made it possible that women are empowered to take responsibilities and become accountable to outcomes from which they initiated with confidence,” appreciated Minister Nyoni.

She revealed that her ministry is currently supporting women in various income-generating programmes.

“After realising the potential possessed by women amongst churches, my Ministry finds it noble to consider them in all initiatives that we have embarked on. These initiatives include projects such as chicken rearing programmes in the form of breeding, hatching, and layering, among others. So far women from some indigenous churches scattered around all provinces of Zimbabwe have benefited from chicks which we are distributing as a Ministry, “she added.

The President of the CCA Women Fellowship, Prophetess Faith Moyo said the organisation is rolling out a mentorship programme meant to eradicate gender-based violence.

“So as an organisation we have a robust awareness programme on how women can stand against abuse and be self-sufficient,” Moyo said.

According to the CCA president Dr Bishop Ricky Moyo, an empowered woman is a ‘security’ for a blissful marriage.

“It’s known that once you empower a woman there is absolute guarantee that a marriage will be intact since women are much organized,” Dr Moyo said.

However, Midlands CCA chairperson, Bishop Peter Munyanyi, said the organisation is also mentoring young men to encourage gender empowerment.

“To address the challenges where some men feel intimidated with their spouses being empowered, CCA is encouraging its members to mentor men, especially the young men, to be able to accept a woman can also be a helper,” urged Bishop Munyanyi.

The national women’s conference is running under the theme, “A Prudent Prayerful Woman Of Virtue Is The Cradle Of A Healthy Family and Nation” and ends on Saturday (today).