The UNDP Zimbabwe, the Sweden Embassy in Harare, Ministry of Environment, Tourism, Climate and Hospitality Industry, Environmental Management Agency (EMA) and many development partners gathered in Mutare on the 4th of April 2022 to hold consultations in line with the upcoming international environmental meeting Stockholm+50 to be held after 50 years of its original launch.
In attendances was the Ambassador of Sweden to Harare – Her Excellency Ms Åsa Pehrson, the Resident Representative of UNDP Her Excellency Mia Seppo , who both expressed their commitment to efforts to reduce the impact of environment and climate change. Ms Pehrson emphasized how ready her government is ready to host the world in June in Stockholm.
The Minister of State Nokhuthula Matsikinyere almost attended and reiterated the government’s commitment to mitigating the climate and environment issues highlighting the devastation cyclone Idai left in the region.
This was Zimbabwe’s 3rd consultations nationally to capture the voice of the population, this one focusing on Youth, Women and Persons with Disabilities.
The findings from the national consultations will be fed into the global discussions at the Stockholm +50 conference which will be held on the 2nd and 3rd of June 2022 in Stockholm Sweden.
The quality of inputs from the youths, people with disabilities and women if implemented, are sure to make a mark in mitigating the ongoing climate and environment.
Women, girls, youths and people with disabilities were identified as suffering the most vulnerabilities especially energy poverty. This includes loss of time for economic opportunities, making hard their menstrual experiences when the weather is hot, unpaid work including gathering firewood, and also identified as the worst affected during floods, cyclones and poor food outcomes.
Youths called on the need to fund environmental issues including green jobs, while policy and laws were identified as fragmented and in need of harmonization to fully benefit women.
Women’s groups included Tag a Life International (TaLI), a Zimbabwean girls and young women’s rights organization represented by its Executive Director Ms Nyaradzo Mashayamombe as well as the Zimbabwe Gender Commission. 
Youth Representative
Opportunities however lie within the climate and environment sector for women and girls to lead the challenges they face, providing leadership opportunities as well as proffering solutions that work for them.
Identities Media TV broadcasted the entire process on our Facebook page, session links are available below for anyone needing to followup on the conversation in Mutare.
https://www.facebook.com/746045108810971/posts/4980693988679374/?d=n
Nyaradzo Nyari Mashayamombe is a human and women as rights activists, a media entrepreneur. To follow her work;
Facebook; Nyaradzo Nyari Mashayamombe
Twitter; @nyarimash
Instagram; nyarimash_ids
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