Staff Reporter
The Airforce of Zimbabwe (AFZ) has embarked o
n women empowerment projects targeting the wives of its officers.
Speaking during the Women Peace and Security Event yesterday at Manyame Air base Sports Club, Group Captain and Commandant School of Technical Training Gender Representative in the Airforce, Memory Mashavave revealed how the AFZ had empowered women.
“The AFZ has achieved gender balance through the promotion of women to senior ranks up to Air Commodore, a rank equivalent to army Generals and women are in the command element and decision-making processes in the organisation, which shows gender equality has taken a centre stage at the AFZ,” said Mashavave.
It was revealed to this publication that the initiative to empower officers’ wives was a brainchild of Mrs Shelta Masakadza, the wife to Manyame Airforce Base Commander, Air Commodore, Elisha Masakadza.
In an interview, Mrs Masakadza revealed why she came up with Women, Peace and Security programme to co-ordinate themselves and innovate ideas for economic sustainability.
“Women should always challenge gender-based violence through employment so that they emancipate themselves from heavily depending on their male counterparts for survival and their day today needs,” Mrs Masakadza said.
Ngoni P Jemwa, the Zimbabwe Institute for girl’s empowerment National coordinator, told this publication that women must be self-sufficient and independent.
“Women and girls should take a step forward in all facets of life and they should break new ground against poverty.
“This programme has also included the wives of soldiers who are not being left behind since we want to empower them economically by giving them life skills and linking them with partners who can give them business loans,” Group Captain Mashavave said.
The programme was graced by a number of companies which came to support the event, such as Mukuru, Be Forward, Doves Morgen and others.
This dovetails with the Second Republic’s drive towards women empowerment and leaving no one behind.
