Staff Reporter

Gender equality is not just a moral imperative but a fundamental prerequisite for sustainable development and progress. The Zimbabwean Constitution, in Section 56, provides a strong framework for the protection and promotion of the rights of women and men, girls and boys. The equality of all persons is recognised, which further outlaws discrimination on the grounds of sex or gender.

As Zimbabwe continues its journey towards development and progress, leaders must prioritise gender equality and ensure that women have equal opportunities for participation and advancement in all spheres of society.

The Second Republic, under the visionary leadership of President Mnangagwa, has opened up numerous opportunities for women. President Mnangagwa is promoting inclusiveness and addressing gender disparities in politics and government. The President has made sure since he ascended to power in 2017 that there is meaningful participation in the unity, council and national political arena.

In a tweet in 2019 to mark International Women’s Day, President Mnangagwa said his government would continue to work towards full gender equality.

“On International Women’s Day, we celebrate the strong, empowered Zimbabwean women who contribute so much to our nation. We will continue to work towards full equality and further empowerment for girls and women in the new Zimbabwe,” said President Mnangagwa.

The efforts by President Mnangagwa are there to see, through the appointment of seven women to the Cabinet. The cabinet has the following women leading various ministries: the Minister of Defence, Oppah Muchinguri-Kashiri; Minister of War Veterans, Monica Mavhunga who was promoted from Deputy Minister to Minister; Women’s Affairs, Community and Small to Medium Enterprise Development Minister, Monica Mutsvangwa; Sports, Arts, and Culture Minister Kirsty Coventry; Tourism and Hospitality Industry Minister, Barbra Rwodzi; ICT, Postal and Courier Services Minister, Tatenda Mavetera; and Environment, Climate and Wildlife Minister, Sithembiso Nyoni.

President Mnangagwa went further and appointed four women out of the 10 provinces as Ministers of State for Provincial Affairs and Devolution and two out of 10 Secretaries for Provincial Affairs and Devolution.

Other women who have been appointed to Government agencies and commissions, include Justice Priscilla Chigumba, the Chairperson of the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission (ZEC); Justice Love Matanda Moyo, the ex-chairperson of the Zimbabwe Anti-Corruption Commission (ZACC), who was recently appointed as the new Prosecutor General; Attorney General Mrs Virginia Mabhiza; Public Health Advisor to the President and Cabinet Dr Agnes Mahomva; and Secretary to Service Commissions Dr Tsitsi Choruma, just to name a few. There are many leadership roles women have occupied under President Mnangagwa.

The Second Republic continues to enact progressive legislation that outlaws the oppression of women across the socio-economic sectors of the country. Government enacted the Marriages Act which criminalises child and set the age of marriage at 18years; the Sexual Harassment Policy, a document that gives direction in addressing sexual harassment at work places which was created by the Public Service Commission (PSC); enactment of the Domestic Violence Act were Chapter 5:16 criminalises domestic violence and provides legal remedies and protection orders for survivors. The Criminal Law (Codification and Reform) Act criminalises sexual assault, forms of sexual violence and rape.  

There has been the establishment of institutions and facilities such as the Women’s Bank, the Women’s Fund, and the Women in Mining Service Centres, among others.

In 2018, President Mnangagwa launched the Zimbabwe Women’s Microfinance Bank (ZWMB), the first of its kind in the Southern African Development Community (SADC) region, which offers loans to women, youths, and other small-scale businesses.

The creation of the bank is meant to champion women’s financial inclusion by providing affordable funding options to start their own enterprises.

The setup of ZWMB is in line with the Zimbabwean constitution in promoting inclusivity for women and gender mainstreaming in all of the country’s developmental programmes.

Furthermore, the creation of the Financial Inclusion Strategy 2 by the Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe (RBZ) is aimed at improving access to credit by disadvantaged entrepreneurs, including women. The strategy is to expand the range of qualifying collateral accepted by lenders as part of broader reforms to improve access to finance and promote financial inclusion.

In furthering the women’s empowerment agenda, after the recently concluded August 2023 harmonised general elections, the Government introduced a 30% women’s quota system at the local government level; before that, the women’s quota was only preserved for the House of Assembly and the Senate.

A conducive environment has been created under the Second Republic for women to engage in policy dialogue on issues that impede women’s participation in all economic sectors and come up with recommendations that promote inclusive development.

The Ministry of Women Affairs, Community, Small and Medium Enterprises Development organised forums such as the inaugural Women Empowerment Summit and Expo held in 2023, whose theme was ‘Revitalising Economic Growth through Women Empowerment’. The summit allowed women to showcase their innovations, create business partnerships, and produce more goods and services.

President Mnangagwa’s commitment to gender equality and women’s empowerment is evident through his actions in both politics and the economy. By appointing women to key leadership positions across various ministries and commissions, implementing progressive legislation, and establishing initiatives like the Zimbabwe Women’s Microfinance Bank and Women in Mining Service Centres, he has demonstrated a genuine dedication to fostering an inclusive society where women have equal opportunities to contribute to national development.

His Excellency`s efforts not only align with the constitutional mandate to promote gender equality but also reflect a pragmatic approach to leveraging the untapped potential of women to drive economic growth and social progress. President Mnangagwa’s proactive stance on empowering women solidifies his reputation as a leader who translates words into meaningful action, making strides towards a more equitable and prosperous Zimbabwe for all.