Staff Reporter

President Emmerson Mnangagwa has reiterated Government’s commitment to promoting intergenerational equity by availing empowerment opportunities to women and youths.

Officially opening the High Level Intergenerational Dialogue on Women's Leadership and Political Participation programme in Harare yesterday, the President said that the Government had reserved seats for women and youths in local authorities and parliament as a way of empowering them.

“I am aware that the youth want their voices to be heard and to have a more direct impact on development of policy and other guiding frameworks that affect their issues. The engagement by the youth should be understood in terms of intergenerational dialogue, collaboration, learning and substantive decision and that giving them autonomy to explore new ideas is vital for a progressive society. In this regard, my Government has put in place various measures to promote inter-generational equity, including reserving seats for women and the youth in both parliament and local authorities,” said the President.

President Mnangagwa said that in pursuance of the objectives of Agenda 2063, the Government valued gender and equity politics. He added that Zimbabwe was a signatory to many declarations aimed at increasing women leadership and decision making and the Government was aiming to provide 60% women quota representation in parliament.

He added that a culture of positive masculinity should be encouraged across all societal levels.

“I also reiterate the importance of having male gender champions in the women's movement. This is the one of the fastest ways to change the narrative for women in all sectors. A culture of positive masculinity should be encouraged at all levels from the male leaders to the young boy across the social strata. On its part, my Government is committed to the advancement of women issues and their inclusion in governance and political processes,” said the President.

Meanwhile, the  High-Level Intergenerational Dialogue on Women's Leadership and Political Participation was held under the theme, ‘Stimulating International Dialogue and Solidarity between the generations: A shared responsibility’, and was attended by various local senior women politicians that included  Ministers Stembiso Nyoni and Oppah Muchinguri as well as the President of Senate, Honourable Mable Chinomona. Women from various political parties and organisations were also represented at the event.