By Letwin Mubonesi
The Zimbabwe Gender Commission (ZGC) is set to start a national consultative programme focusing on equal representation of women in politics. This development comes after the indications that there was growing frustration over the misunderstandings in the implementation of the women’s constitutional quota before it lapses in 2023.
The commission set to start these consultative meetings in different provinces starting being with Bulawayo a few day ago but was postponed to a further date which is to be advised in due course.
In a notice which was sent to stakeholders, ZGC chief executive officer Mrs Virginia Muwanigwa said that the consultative initiatives were meant to ensure that women in all provinces were empowered and fully represented especially in politics.
“In line with its mandate, the Zimbabwe Gender Commission is leading advocacy initiatives aimed at engendering the constitutional and legislative framework to facilitate equal representation of women in politics and decision making,” said Muwanigwa.
The Commission is going to work hand-in-hand with women in their respective provinces during the consultative meetings helping them to increase their voices in the need to increase their participation in politics.
Mrs Muwanigwa said, “as part of its advocacy initiatives, the commission intends to carry out provincial dialogues to share and consult on electoral and constitutional reforms to increase women participation in politics and decision making positions.”
Muwanigwa said one of the objectives is to advocate and lobby for 50/50 representation in politics and decision making platforms. Statistics show that men dominate the political spaces more than women and that there is only 35% representation of women in parliament while the rest are men. A few women are taking up positions in politics and decision making hence the Commission wants to rectify that through these Provincial consultative meetings.
She said, “specific objectives of the consultations were to share with, and consult, all the provinces on electoral and constitutional reforms to increase women’s participation in politics and national decision making as well as to publicise and increase visibility of the Commission at Provincial level and to get an appreciation of the gender issues affecting communities which need ZGC attention.”
The Commission has an impressive mix of qualifications, competencies and experiences that are pertinent to the advancement of gender equality and equity in Zimbabwe and the mix presents many entry points for addressing systemic gender discrimination and barriers found in social, economic, traditional, religious, political and academic settings.
Meanwhile, Zimbabwe Gender Commission whose obligation among others is to investigate possible violations of human rights relating to gender and make recommendations recently notified the nation of its intentions to investigate the sexual abuse accusations against the Prophetic Healing and Deliverance leader, Walter Magaya.
The commission has invited anyone with evidence or complaints against Magaya to come forward and let justice take its course. The announcement for this call was made by the Zimbabwe Gender Commission Chairperson, Mrs Margaret Mukahanana-Sangare in the government Gazzette.
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