Story by Abigirl Tembo, Health Editor
ZIMBABWE Cricket has partnered the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) to strengthen awareness efforts for ending gender-based violence and promoting sexual and reproductive health.
The partnership to leverage on winning runs against gender-based violence and promote sexual and reproductive health leveraging on the massive popularity of cricket among men and boys nationwide.
UNFPA Country Representative Mrs Miranda Tabifor emphasised the importance of addressing gender-based violence and promoting sexual and reproductive health including rights through sport.
“The partnership with Zimbabwe Cricket Association is pivotal to UNFPA’s Strategic Plan 2022-2025, which notes that I quote: ‘UNFPA will expand its multi-stakeholder partnerships and innovative collaborations for impact.’ It also notes that organisations, associations and initiatives are essential to the achievement of the Program of Action of the International Conference on Population and Development (ICPD) and the Sustainable Development Goals,” she said.
“The partnership is an accelerator in achieving universal access to sexual and reproductive health and reducing maternal mortality including within the framework of UNFPA support to the Government of Zimbabwe under the 8th Country Programme of Cooperation We cannot achieve UNFPA transformative results and Zimbabwe’s Vision 2030 to transform Zimbabwe to an upper middle-income economy without an ecosystem of partners.
“We are happy to have Zimbabwe Cricket Association on the table as one of the stakeholders in the ecosystem to achieve these results. Cricket players serve as role models in society and we believe this partnership will advance our good cause of reducing gender based violence in Zimbabwe.”
Zimbabwe Cricket Managing Director Mr Givemore Makoni said his boys are up to the task at hand as ambassadors of fighting gender-based violence.
“Cricket is known as a gentleman‘s game and we are ready to play our part in ending gender based violence. We also appreciate that this partnership though primarily aimed at supporting the female and girl child, will also require engaging men and boys and raise awareness on positive masculinity and the positives it brings in ending violence against women and girls.
“With its huge following nationwide of cricket lovers, especially men and boys, the potential for the Zimbabwe Cricket Association is huge,” he said.
Through a combination of awareness-raising campaigns, community outreach programmes and training for cricket players and officials, the ground-breaking collaboration is expected to yield positive results, empowering individuals and communities to eradicate harmful gender stereotypes and foster a culture of respect and equality.
