Staff Reporter
The Minister of Women Affairs, Community, Small and Medium Enterprises Development, Monica Mutsvangwa, said that the Government had formulated policies aimed at promoting women's participation in economic development.
Addressing participants of the National Defence Course (NDC) at the Zimbabwe National Defence University in Mazowe today, Minister Mutsvangwa highlighted the pivotal role of these policies in removing barriers hindering women's economic empowerment.
"It was not until after independence in 1980 that the Government recognised the importance of women's participation in economic development. In the 1980s, Government introduced policies aimed at promoting gender equality and women's empowerment. These policies included the establishment of the Women's Affairs Department and the adoption of the Zimbabwean National Gender Policy in 1997. These policies sought to remove barriers that hindered women's participation in economic development, such as discriminatory laws and cultural practices," Minister Mutsvangwa stated during her presentation.
The Minister emphasised Government's commitment to women's economic empowerment, saying it was crucial for achieving development goals, such as the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, Vision 2030, and National Development Strategy 1 (NDS1).
Minister Mutsvangwa underscored the compound effect of women's economic contribution on national development, stating that the neglect of women's role in the economic sphere contributes to underdevelopment in countries worldwide.
Acknowledging the challenges facing women in Zimbabwe, Minister Mutsvangwa highlighted Government initiatives, such as the Women's Empowerment Fund and the Women's Bank, aimed at providing financial support to women entrepreneurs.
She also commended the efforts of Non-Governmental Organisations (NGOs) in providing training and support to women across various economic sectors.
Reflecting on the progress and challenges in women's participation in economic development, Minister Mutsvangwa emphasised the imperative of including women who constitute about 52 percent of the population in national development efforts.
To this end, she announced the introduction of the National Women in Leadership and Decision-Making Strategy 2023–2030, designed to increase women's representation in the public, political, and private sectors.
Highlighting the impact of Government policies and programmes, Minister Mutsvangwa pointed out that women now hold leadership roles across various sectors, including politics, decision-making bodies, and private sector boards, among many others.
