Stakeholders pledge to empower women
AS Zimbabwe joins the world in commemorating Women’s Month, which starts today, Government and its partners have committed to ensuring the empowerment of women as this is essential to the health and social development of families, communities and the country.
Women’s Month is an annual event that celebrates the progress made towards achieving gender equity and women’s empowerment, while striving to address the gaps that still exist.
Speaking at the launch of the Women’s Month and the “Every stage of woman” campaign, Women Affairs, Community and Small and Medium Enterprises Development Minister Monica Mutsvangwa stressed the need for gender transformative reforms to ensure inclusive societies.
“Empowering women is essential to the health and social development of families, communities and countries. When women are living safe, fulfilled and productive lives, they can reach their full potential, contributing their skills to the workforce and can raise happier and healthier children,” she said.
International Women’s Day, which falls in March this year, is running under the theme: “Investing in women: Accelerating progress.”
According to United Nations Women, 75 million people are living in extreme poverty and this spillover could potentially lead to 324 million women and girls living below the poverty datum line by 2030.
Minister Mutsvangwa said the challenges faced by women in today’s world called for a discussion around investing in women to accelerate their progress.
The challenges had been worsened by the Covid-19 pandemic, which had presented with its own challenges.
The “Every stage of woman”, which is being rolled out by Population Services Zimbabwe with support from the Swedish Government and other partners, seeks to reignite the passion to pursue the dreams that women and girls in Zimbabwe have and will have while maintaining a healthy lifestyle.
It will run under the theme: “Investing in women: Accelerating progress at every stage of woman.”
“It is a reminder to the woman here today and in our nation at large that you are not alone in this journey,” said Minister Mutsvangwa.
“Reach out for support from the various faculties herein represented to ensure that you achieve every dream you have always had.
“Whatever you may be going through, there is someone who has gone through a similar challenge. Embrace the support around you. Be willing to be empowered, to be educated, to be supported through the various challenges you may come across.”
Health and Child Care Deputy Minister Sleiman Kwidini said the launch of Women’s Month campaign presented an opportunity for the nation to reflect on the health and well-being of women and girls.
The Government was committed to implementing rights enshrined in section 56 of the Constitution which provided a strong framework for the protection and promotion of the rights of women and men, girls and boys.
“The Government has also endorsed goals and targets set out in international protocols and agreements on health and has placed sexual and reproductive health and rights high on the national agenda,” said Deputy Minister Kwidini.
“Since 2010, we have made considerable progress in improving the sexual and reproductive health status of the Zimbabwean population.
“My Ministry has consistently developed policies and strategies aimed at providing basis for an increased and long-term investment in reproductive, maternal, newborn, child and adolescent health, and to provide guidance to all strategic partners, stakeholders and programmes for a more coordinated, multi-sectoral and national response to improved health service delivery at all levels.
“The Ministry continues to implement interventions to improve the Sexual and Reproductive Health status of people in the country.”
Swedish Ambassador to Zimbabwe Mr Per Lindgärde said the Swedish Government was committed to contributing to the development of gender equality world-wide.
“We have made progress over time, but we still have a long way to go before we can reach gender equality, also in Sweden,” he said.
“In Zimbabwe, gender inequality remains a major obstacle to development. Women and girls continue to face numerous challenges.
“Sexual violence, inadequate reproductive health and rights information and services and high rates of child marriages hinder attainment of equality. At the same time, I would like to recognise the Government of Zimbabwe’s openness, and strong commitment to addressing issues that affect women’s wellbeing.”
Ambassador Lindgärde called for more innovative thinking to advance solutions to structural and conjunctural challenges faced by women in the country.
He said Sweden had supported 24 projects addressing gender inequalities as part of the on-going development cooperation in Zimbabwe.
“Today as we launch the Women’s Month, let us be reminded that empowering women and girls and promoting gender equality is crucial to accelerating sustainable development,” said Ambassador Lindgärde.
“Ending all forms of discrimination against women and girls is not only a basic human right, but it also has a multiplier effect across all other development areas.
“It is indeed the right thing to do. Also, from an economic point of view, gender equality goes hand-in-hand with macroeconomic and financial stability, can stimulate economic growth, boost private and public sector performance, and reduce income inequality.”
Population Services Zimbabwe country director Mrs Pester Siraha women faced many challenges throughout their life cycles hence the call to invest in them.
“Because when we invest in women, we have a healthy woman, throughout their life cycle, we have a productive woman who is able to feed in all the economic fronts in the country,” she said.