By Grace Chekai
Women of the world, more-so those in Zimbabwe have much to celebrate in the month of March, lest we forget the sterling work they are doing in the attainment of vision 2030 of achieving a middle income economy. Our commendation goes to President Emmerson Mnangagwa’s government for empowering women and putting it on record that the women should be empowered and be supported in every manner.
Women have responded positively to this support and are doing wonders in all spheres of the economy and gone are the days when they will be marginalised due to patriarchal inclinations. It’s a fact that women play a pivotal role in all spheres of life but when it comes to development and matters that involves power, they are left out in preference to the opposite sex.
Women are now found doing exceptional work in mining, agriculture, manufacturing, the list is endless.
All this has been made possible because the Government has upped its game in ensuring there is progress towards the achievement of the Millennium Development Goals, specifically MDG 3 to promote gender equality and empower women.
The achievements of women of Zimbabwe resonate with the International Women’s Day (IWD) 2020 campaign theme which is #EachforEqual.
Women are taking the lead by actively choosing to challenge stereotypes, fight bias, broaden perceptions, improve situations and venture into former male dominated areas. The IWD 2020 campaign theme is being drawn from the notion of ‘Collective Individualism.’
IWD is a global day celebrating the social, economic, cultural and political achievements of women while also marking a call to action for accelerating gender equality. Aptly, the campaign theme runs all year long and this gives the women the opportunity to ponder over the roles of women in development knowing that women are all equal in all the spheres of life.
This year, the Ministry of Lands, Agriculture, Water and Rural Resettlement has taken a lead in commemorating this women`s month by acknowledging the sterling work being done by women in Agriculture. This is after the Deputy Minister of the Ministry Honourable Vangelis Haritatos took it on his Facebook page and posted the excellent work being executed by the women in Agriculture after his visit to Nomhle Mliswa`s farm.
“We have seen amazing work that is a clear testimony that women can do it. Ms. Nomhle Mliswa, host, has indeed paved the way for all women and has shown them that it can be done.
“She has shown us all that partnerships can yield positive results. Borrowing the slogan for Women in Agriculture Union, she is truly a ‘female force of farming.”
The Ministry of Agriculture recognizes that women play an important role in agriculture, undertaking a wide range of activities relating to accessing inputs, production of various products, post-harvest handling and storage, processing, marketing and distribution.
It is estimated that here in Zimbabwe, women account for 70 percent of the food production, but their work tends to be economically invisible.
President Mnangagwa is on record encouraging women to be visible in all sectors of the economy. The Zimbabwe Women`s Microfinance Bank (ZWMB) was officially opened by His Excellency President Mnangagwa on 25 June 2018, so as to support women in all their economic endeavours.
Speaking on the day, President Mnangagwa said that women are the pillars of families and his Government has made a priority to ensure that women are supported adding that women have unique needs that are often neglected and not provided for.
As 8 March draws near, Zimbabweans should join women in celebrating Women’s Day whilst acknowledging their achievements in development, peace, education and security. The fulfilment of women`s rights and their participation in the political and economic process is attainable under the leadership of President Mnangagwa.
