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Zimbabwe has made commendable progress toward advancing gender equality in alignment with the Beijing +30 commitments, especially through the collaboration of the government, the United Nations, and other stakeholders.
In her keynote address, the Honourable Minister of Women Affairs, Community, Small and Medium Enterprises, Hon. Senator Monica Mutsvangwa at the gender equality and women empowerment stakeholder feedback and Beijing +30 commemoration campaign launch meeting in Harare today, said Zimbabwe has made significant strides on the gender equality and women empowerment landscape.
“In our review of the progress made from 2019 to the present, it is evident that we are making significant strides forward, underscoring our commitment to advancing gender equality and addressing the unique challenges faced by women and girls in our country. This progress is characterized by comprehensive legislative reforms and proactive policies that aim to create a more equitable society.
“Efforts to combat violence which is a major violation of the rights of women and girls saw the development and implementation of the High-Level Political Compact on Ending Gender-Based Violence and Harmful Practices (HLPC), signed by His Excellency, the President of the Republic of Zimbabwe Comrade E.D Mnangagwa, as a strong demonstration of political commitment to eliminate violence against women and girls and harmful practices in Zimbabwe.
“Transformative initiatives for women’s economic empowerment have also been implemented, including the establishment of Maker Spaces, safe markets, climate-smart initiatives, industrial hubs, processing plants, and machinery provision. Additionally, skill training and market access interventions have been introduced to strengthen financial inclusion and support the development of small and medium enterprises (SMEs). The Women’s Empowerment Fund, the Women’s Micro-Finance Bank, SMEDCO, and various other financial inclusion programs have played a vital role in advancing these efforts,” Hon Mutsvangwa said.
She said to enhance women’s participation in decision-making and leadership across all sectors and levels, several initiatives are being implemented, guided by the Women in Politics and Decision-Making Strategy. As a result, the country has witnessed a positive trajectory and gradual increase in women’s representation in public sector decision-making roles. This year’s high-level Women in Leadership Summit served as an exceptional platform for advocacy, uniting and amplifying the voices of Zimbabwean women through a communiqué that the Minister of Women Affars submitted to the Presidium. The recommendations from the Summit provide a clear path forward for promoting women’s representation in politics and decision-making positions.
In his remarks, His Excellency Mr. Edward Kallon, the UN Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator at the Beijing +30 National Launch, said Zimbabwe has made commendable progress toward advancing gender equality in alignment with Beijing +30 commitments.
“A significant milestone has been achieved through the collaborative efforts of the UN, the Government of Zimbabwe, and the EU – for example, under the Spotlight Initiative. With a generous contribution of US$34 million from the EU, we have delivered impactful results in combating gender-based violence and advancing gender equality.
“Key achievements include the enhancement of the DNA laboratory at the Zimbabwe Republic Police headquarters to enable the law enforcement to hold perpetrators accountable, providing critical support to survivors of gender-based violence. This has augmented the legal framework and integrated services available to those in need. Furthermore, the empowerment of women’s movements, along with initiatives engaging youth, traditional leaders, and men and boys, has fostered a culture of proactive involvement in ending violence against women and girls,” HE Kallon said.
Addressing the same gathering, Hon Gertrude Mutandi, the Parliamentary Committee of Women Affairs, Community, Small, and Medium Enterprise Development Chairperson, said the various parliamentary committees have been empowered to recommend the continuation of policies, review laws, and oversee the government’s actions to ensure that no one is left behind in the journey for gender equality.
“In our journey towards a better future, this meeting provides an opportunity to offer new insights and renew commitment to drive efforts and improve the quality and effectiveness of gender equality and women empowerment. As legislators, we have to ensure that gender-centred policies are not just theoretically but are practically embedded in our legislative agendas.
“Today, our discussions will give us insights into several critical issues. The Ministry of Women Affairs, Community, Small and Medium Enterprises Development plays an instrumental role in the process by promoting gender-centred policies and women-economic empowerment. We are uniquely positioned to act as a bridge between the work of the Ministry and the people we serve,” Hon Mutandi said.
Chioniso Murinda from the African Women Leaders Network (AWLN) urged stakeholders to come together to address the challenges that women continue to face, promote gender equality, and work towards the full realization of the Beijing Plus 30 agenda.
Maria Horno Comet from Team Europe said the European Union is committed to promoting gender equality and women’s empowerment in Zimbabwe.
“The EU Member States and the European Union are committed to promoting gender equality and women’s empowerment in Zimbabwe. Our development cooperation has a specific focus on gender equality and women empowerment. The Team Europe initiative is nothing else than a true and joint effort by the EU member states to come together under a significant number of objectives and to align, coordinate, and make sure we are being more effective than we were before.
“Of course, equality is a fundamental principle of the EU and that’s what we have to push together with Team Europe. Team Europe has ongoing programs of a total of Euro 860 million dollars, or even more if we don’t get into a number we don’t have, with over 280 Euro million, which are financing gender-specific projects,” Comet said.
The Team Europe initiative aligns its programs with the Constitution of Zimbabwe, the National Development Strategy 1, and the National Gender Policy. It focuses on the following four objectives: a violence-free gender-responsive society, the promotion of women’s social empowerment and gender-responsive service delivery, a supportive environment for gender parity in politics and decision-making processes and positions at all levels, and the promotion of equality and equitable access to economic opportunities for women and men.
Team Europe has supported so far the implementation of 85 projects across these areas, with various implementing partners including civil society organizations and humanitarian agencies.
“However, despite the progress, we are also aware there is still much more to be done. Women and girls continue to face significant challenges, including gender-based violence, limited access to education and economic opportunities, and inadequate representation in decision-making positions.
“As we move forward, it is essential that we work together to address these challenges and ensure that women and girls have equal opportunities to participate in all aspects of life. For us, the Team Europe initiative, which aims to promote gender equality and women’s empowerment, is a very useful framework to guide this job,” she added.
