Gender Commission decentralises to Manicaland
ZIMBABWE Gender Commission has decentralised its services to Manicaland by establishing a fully functional office which has been overseeing and carrying out the Commission’s mandate in the province since January 1.
In an interview on Monday on the sidelines of a meeting with the Minister of State for Manicaland Provincial Affairs and Devolution, Advocate Misheck Mugadza, the Zimbabwe Gender Commission chairperson, Commission Margaret Mukahanana-Sangarwe said they are decentralising in the spirit of devolution.
The Commission has also opened offices in Midlands, Masvingo, and Mashonaland West.
Commissioner Mukahanana-Sangarwe said the goal is to ensure that gender equality issues are addressed more effectively across the country.
She said the Manicaland office will be manned by a regional coordinator who is supported by adequate staff to ensure that the Commission carries out its mandate.
Mr Confidence Mungayi is the Commission’s regional coordinator for Manicaland.
Said Commissioner Mukahanana-Sangarwe: “In the spirit of devolution, we recently received approval from Government to decentralise to other provinces. We were only based in Harare and Bulawayo, and we are now devolving to different regions.
“Currently, we are devolving to Manicaland, Midlands, Masvingo and Mashonaland West and we are hoping that in the near future, we will be devolving to the remaining provinces because our work involves a lot of investigations of issues that happen throughout the country.
“When you are only based in Harare, it becomes very difficult to carry out investigations. It was not very effective and we found out that we needed people on the ground.
“As the Zimbabwe Gender Commission, our specific mandate is to monitor and ensure gender equality issues as provided for in the Constitution, investigate possible violations of rights related to gender equality, receiving complaints from the public and taking appropriate action. The Constitution talks about equal representation.
“Our local team will be doing this in Manicaland, and we hope that it will help improve the gender situation,” she said.
The Zimbabwe Gender Commission was established in terms of Section 245 of the Constitution of Zimbabwe and was operationalised through the Zimbabwe Gender Commission Act (Chapter 10:31).
The Commission’s vice-chairperson, Commissioner Obert Matshalaga said the Commission plays a critical role in preventing and addressing gender-based violence and promoting gender equality.
“We hope that the Commission’s staff will make the province shine in terms of addressing
gender issues. Gender issues are very topical in development, and we hope that this move will help in advancing development in Manicaland, which will be consistent with the view of leaving no one and no place behind,” he said.
Secretary for Manicaland Provincial Affairs and Devolution, Mr Abiot Maronge represented Advocate Mugadza during the meeting.
He welcomed the decentralisation of the Zimbabwe Gender Commission offices to Manicaland, emphasizing that this move will
ensure better accessibility and efficiency for locals.
“The Zimbabwe Gender Commission has a critical role to play in every part of the country because there are issues that are crying out for attention. This province is not an exception, there are issues that require officials to pay attention to them on a day-to-day basis. Everyone needs to be sensitised and empowered so that we become sensitive to gender matters,” said Mr Maronge.