Story by Fungai Jachi
An engagement between the government and the Civil Society held in Harare this Thursday saw women pressure groups encouraging government to ensure gender related laws and policies are strengthened for women empowerment to become a reality.
Zimbabwe Women’s Bill executive director, Mrs Ronica Mumbire told the ZBC News, “We have good laws that can help to make gender equality a reality, but they lack implementation which is derailing progress in making women succeed in different circles.”
“There is more that needs to be done to ensure women from the rural areas are empowered. There has to be deliberate policies that are put in place to ensure these women are truly empowered,” Women in Law Southern Africa director, Ms Fadzai Traqino noted.
Zimbabwe Gender Commission chief executive officer Mrs Virginia Muwanigwa also weighed in, “We appreciate that we do have laws that include the constitution, but what is lacking is the implementation of the laws to allow for women to reach their full potential.”
The Minister of Women Affairs, Community Small to Medium Enterprises Development, Senator Monica Mutsvangwa said government will continue working with the CSOs to ensure no one is left behind in the developmental trajectory.
She said, “As government, we want to do everything possible to ensure women are empowered. Government can’t do this alone, that is why we will work with CSOs for the empowerment agenda to be realised.
The engagement saw representatives from various women organisations coming together to discuss and come up with strategies on how women in various sectors can be empowered.
