Bernard Mutambudzi
The European Union has committed USD 22million for the Spotlight Initiative program in Zimbabwe which will be implemented by United Nations in partnership with the Ministry of Women Affairs, Community, Small and Medium Enterprises and civil society organisations, President Mnangagwa has revealed.
In a speech read on his behalf by Minister of Higher and Tertiary Education, Professor Amon Murwira, President Mnangagwa said Government remained committed to strengthening the development and implementation of laws and policies that protect women and girls from all forms of violence.
"May l from the onset express my gratitude to the European Union and the United Nations for embarking on this noble initiative which is aimed at contributing to an end to the problem of Gender Based Violence by putting it in the spotlight. This initiative will see our country receiving support to the tune of 22 million euros towards programmes to end violence against women and girls," said the President.
He said he was reliably informed that Zimbabwe was among eight beneficiaries in Africa. “My most sincere, gratitude goes to the United Nations Ambassador to Zimbabwe, Dr Bishow Parajuli for lobbying for our inclusion in this noble initiative," said President.
The President said the Spotlight initiative was an expression of the same political will that was demonstrated by the International community in adopting the Sustainable Development Goals, with Goal 5 focusing specifically on Gender Equality with concrete targets on ending violence against women and girls as well as mainstreaming of gender across the entire 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. He said the spotlight initiative resonated well with the provisions in our constitution and TSP which recognise gender mainstreaming in all sectors of the economy.
"It is my hope that through Spotlight Initiative, we will adopt measures that would bring this problem into the public domain and enable policy makers to realise that GBV has a negative impact on the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) and national development as a whole," said the President.
He said it was a significant obstacle to vision 2030. The President said Government had put in place institutional mechanisms and multi-sectoral and stakeholder structures starting from the national down to the ward level to address GBV. He said the enactment of Domestic Violence Act showed Government's highest level of commitment to eliminate violence against women and girls in Zimbabwe.
He added that Government was also spearheading the provision of services through the One Stop Centre Model which has proved to be very effective in providing a holistic service to GBV survivors.
"Spotlight in taking that route and we are grateful," said the President.
Giving his remarks, UN resident Coordinator, Mr Bishow Parajuli said spotlight Initiative should ensure that all women and girls benefit from adequate legislation and policies, gender responsive institutions, violence prevention programs, essential services, comparable and reliable data, and strong women's movements and civil society organisations.
"The spotlight initiatives tackles head-on sexual gender based violence by paving the way for women and to have a " voice", "choice" and "control over their lives, particularly their ability to make decisions, pursue education, provide for themselves and their families and actively participate in their community," said Parajuli.
