Story by Providence Maraneli
RURAL community leaders have been urged to ensure that human rights are upheld at household level for the nation to achieve gender equality.
Statistics have shown that rural communities have a higher percentage of gender related violence cases.
On the same note, the Zimbabwe Gender Commission has handled 4 000 cases of gender-based complaints this year, with cases of murder, child marriages, chieftainship conflicts, and crimes of passion being some of the topical complaints.
As such, stakeholders who attended this year’s Gender Forum in Gwanda are convinced that a lot needs to be done in communities in the fight to achieve gender equality.
“We dream of a situation where women and children enjoy gender equality, sustainable peace, and development,” Women Coalition of Zimbabwe representative, Ms Mercy Mukwane said.
“The national policy recognises the diversity of various groups and the need to address the stereotypes regarding gender roles,” Ministry of Women Affairs, Community, Small and Medium Enterprises Development, Gwanda District officer, Mrs Sipho Maphosa noted.
The Minister of State for Matabeleland South Provincial Affairs and Devolution, Honourable Albert Nguluvhe, called on community leaders to spearhead behaviour change campaigns in communities.
“I believe this issue of gender equality should start from the grassroots, just as development should start from the grassroots. If we are to talk about gender equality or gender sensitivity, we ought to go to the villages because that is where it should start. We must have people change their behaviours and perceptions of gender equality from the household level, and then move to the community, village, ward, district, province, and finally, the national level,” he said.
The Zimbabwe Gender Commission has rolled out provincial gender forum meetings across all provinces to capture views from various stakeholders on gender equality.
“In our healthcare systems, women bear the brunt of maternal health risks while men’s and youth mental health needs require urgent attention. Most alarmingly, gender-based violence continues to threaten the safety and dignity of countless Zimbabweans every single day,” Zimbabwe Gender Commission, Deputy Chairperson, Dr Obert Matshalaga added.
The provincial meetings precede the National Gender Forum running under the theme, ‘ZGC@10: Reflecting on Achievements and the Future for Gender Equality in Zimbabwe.’
