The 14th of November will forever be remembered and cherished by all who care about women’s wellbeing and welfair, especially the girl child who has just received relief from the Zimbabwe government.
The Minister of Finance Mthuli Ncube in his budget for 2020 had the government for the first time commit a significant amount for the provision of sanitary wear for girls in schools. An allocation that’s been noted by the sanitary wear champion and member of parliament Honorable Priscillah Misihairabwi, as ground breaking in Southern Africa.
During the Celebrations event hosted my Katswe Sisterhood the women’s group that has been championing this cause, Misihairabwi Mushonga said that it took her 18 years of taking panties into parliament to emphasize the plight of girls on their period for the government to come around and dedicate money for sanitary wear for girls.
She celebrated Katswe sisterhood for taking on this unpopular campaign, the #HappyFlow to make noise And lobby government until the government heard them.
Misihairabwi also celebrated the Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Finance Guvamatanga, whose daughter is said to have also been a champion of this cause behind closed doors who kept asking her father about free sanitary wear in schools.
Members of parliament including males contributed to this in the house during the debates in Parliament which resulted in this $200 million allocation of sanitary wear for girls in schools. In honoring them, Misihairabwi Mushonga Honored Honorable Mushayi, Honorable Banda, Honorable Mchenje as well as Honorable Madhuku for this voices in Parliament.
some of the members of Parliament who were vocal in advocating for this initiative include; Honorables; Karenyi, Mbondia, Gonese, Munetsi, Shava, Mutambisi, S Ndhlovu, Shirichena, Mavima, Sibanda and Zemura.
The Director of Katswe Sisterhood Mrs Talent Madziva Jumo Said this was a relief, but also the beginning of ensuring that every girls experience ceases to be a shame when she goes through her period. She sighted that this campaign had included four countries but Zimbabwe had become the first to deliver.
The school girls who were present could not hide their joy, alluding that at last this initiative by the government would make them feel not different from boys, and that they will not need to miss school anymore.
The girls who have been activists during this period of the campaign including submitting a petition to the President in August 2018 were happy with the outcomes of their own efforts.
Hivos, a funding partner which was represented by Ms Tamara Johnsson reiterated that monthly period for girls is part of sexual reproductive health that is at the heart of what their organisation supports, and were excited about this development and their efforts.
She said that she couldn’t help but cry when she got the message that the sanitary wear had been announced by the minister as having its own allocation In the national budget, sighting that she could very well retire from Parliament having achieved her decades’ dream.
Add comment