Rudo Saungweme_

Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Women Affairs, Community, Small and Medium Enterprises, Ambassador Rudo Chitsiga has revealed that the Office of the President and Cabinet (OPC) has started to prepare a database in every ministry which shows the representation of women in the decision making positions to ensure the achievement of gender equality as provided in the Corporate Governance Act Section 11 B.

Ambassador Chitsiga said this today while addressing members of the Women Affairs Parliamentary Portfolio Committee at Parliament.

"Office of the President and has started to prepare a database in every ministry to ensure that there is 50/50 representation of women in all parastatal boards.

"This is in line with the Corporate Governance Act, Section 11 B which states that, there should be equal numbers of men and women on all boards, and Zimbabwe’s regions will also have to be equitably represented on them," she said.

Ambassador Chitsiga added that Public Service Commission has agreed to fill up all the vacant places available in the civil service with women to ensure equal gender representation.

Ambassador Chitsiga told the Parliamentary committee that the Government will continue with the programs that ensure the visibility of women.

She encouraged the Zimbabwe Gender Commission, which was also present; to pursue its mandate in line with section 17 of the Constitution which promotes the representation of women in all sectors adding that the Ministry of Women Affairs relies on the Commission for the lobbying of women to be included in the parastatal boards.

The Zimbabwe Gender Commission is one of the five Independent Commissions established in terms of Sections 232 (c) and 245 of the Constitution and operationalised through the Gender Commission Act (Chapter 10:31).