Staff Reporter
Youth, Sport, Arts and Recreation Minister, Kirsty Coventry has urged people to desist from gender discrimination and gender based violence.
Minister Coventry said this during her Women’s Day commemorations speech at the National Gallery of Zimbabwe in Harare yesterday, where she appreciated the assistance being given to women by President Emmerson Mnangagwa.
“Ladies and gentlemen, let us put a stop to gender discrimination and gender based violence and let us stands together to support and encourage each other, we are each other’s keeper after all. Zimbabwe let us value unhu/ubuntu as people, as we look upon our female Cultural and Creative industries (CCIs) practitioners whether they are providing goods or services, please support them by paying them fair value for service rendered.
“We are aware that the Cultural and Creative Industries suffered huge setbacks and loss of income for many and we are grateful for the assistance rendered by the President of Zimbabwe to the sector. Some practitioners who are registered received and continue to receive the Covid-19 Artists Relief Fund,” she said.
Minister Coventry bemoaned challenges being faced by women within the CCIs among them gender discrimination through unwarranted comments and gestures especially in the modelling and musical genres, highlighting that some nasty comments even come from fellow women.
Yesterday celebrations were held under the theme ‘Women in leadership: Achieving an equal future in the Cultural and Creative Industries”. The Minister said the commemoration has been set within the month of March as people were still in the mood of celebrating International Women’s Day which was held on the 8th of March.
The Minister applauded women for being inherently resilient and creative. “This is seen especially within their families, in Shona they say “musha mukadzi” which loosely translates to mean ‘The woman is the foundation of a home’. Women are the first line of care givers within the family unit. Especially within the COVID-19 pandemic. l would like to recognise women who continue providing care for their loved ones,” she said.
Minister Coventry implored and challenged women across the country to pursue the perfection of their skills and enter into the formal system of the CCIs by registering through the National Arts Council of Zimbabwe.
She recognised and celebrated women who have achieved success within the CCIs among them musicians Janet Manyowa, Gemma Griffits, Selmor Mtukudzi, Hope Masike, Chipo Muchengura, Amai Charamba, and visual artists Portia Zvavahera and Kresia Mukwazhi and actresses Jessy Mungoshi, Danai Gurira and the late Anne Nhira.
The above mentioned women, the Minister said were just a few among many women who have excelled within the CCIs, who are equally working as hard, breaking barriers within their spheres. The Minister assured them that Government will continue to support them as they steer the CCIs.
