Zim Uhuru: Many milestones, but no gender equality

AS Zimbabwe celebrates 40 years since attainment of independence, the Zimbabwe Gender Commission (ZGC) notes many milestones by the Government on gender equality and women empowerment.

However, there are still challenges and lessons to inform future national programmes and policies.

Over the years, in its continued commitment to removal of all forms of gender discrimination in society, Government adopted several international and regional declarations and conventions.

As a way of domesticating these instruments, Government enacted various laws since independence, which culminated in the Constitution of Zimbabwe Amendment (No. 20) Act 2013, which guarantees gender equality, non-discrimination and women’s rights. In addition, gender has been integrated in acts governing other sectors.

Government also set up a gender machinery — which includes the Ministry of Women Affairs, Community, Small and Medium Enterprises Development; Zimbabwe Gender Commission; Anti-Domestic Violence Council and the Zimbabwe Women’s Micro-Finance Bank, among others. Within other mainstream institutions, gender focal points have also been appointed. These institutions are supported by public funds.

While acknowledging the above landmarks, ZGC notes remaining challenges regarding gender equality. The overall challenge is that gender equality remains elusive and is likely to stay unattainable.

The main reason for the disparities remains the incongruence between the letter and spirit of the legislative framework beginning with the Constitution, and the lived realities of the people of Zimbabwe.

While the Constitution as the supreme law of the land guarantees gender equality and outlaws discrimination — in practice inequalities prevail across social, political and economic spheres.

Both women and men participated in the liberation struggle and then towards the making of the 2013 Constitution resulting in several clauses upholding gender equality and non-discrimination.

The proposed extension of the parliamentary quota falls far short of the constitutional benchmark of equal representation not only in Parliament but also across all areas. Access to justice remains out of reach for most citizens but particularly women due to the prohibitive costs and arduous processes despite efforts by other stakeholders to provide the services pro bono.

The under-representation of women in politics and decision making is not only problematic but also acts as an obstacle to equitable and sustainable development. Since the outcomes of the political party processes determine representation through elec- tions and/or appointments, it is worrying that political parties remain unaccountable to the constitutional tenets.

This has resulted in decreasing representation of women in directly elected posts, contrary to the constitutional requirement. Gender disparities prevail with regards to access to economic resources and employment.

While most Zimbabweans are now in the informal economy, women’s specific needs are not prioritised.

Gender budget analyses show a persistent under-funding of gender machinery compared to other areas. This is despite the country having adopted gender responsive budgeting as a principle.

The gains of post-independence Zimbabwe in education and training that led to high literacy rates are at risk of being eroded by lack of opportunities in the job market. While parity exists at entry into education system and in primary education, disparities exist in access to education at higher and tertiary level.

Violence against girls in education, including the spectre of sexual harassment, is a big challenge that should be addressed henceforth.

The health sector remains a key challenge in relation to gender issues even outside humanitarian crises. There is need for concerted efforts to ensure that health concerns of men, women, boys and girls are addressed. Maternal and infant mortality, while decreasing, remains unacceptably high.

There is no reason why women should be dying during childbirth in the 21st century.

While a number of positive outcomes have been seen, for instance, the enactment of the Anti-Domestic Violence Act, the establishment of the Anti-Domestic Violence Council and a gender sensitive Constitution, ZGC notes with great concern that cases of gender-based violence (GBV) in all its forms continue to escalate.

According to the 2015 Zimbabwe Demographic Health Survey, one in three women (35 percent) aged 15 to 49 have experienced physical violence. In addition, about one in four women have experienced sexual violence since the age of 15. As a nation, we need to find a way to curb GBV.

One of the negative results of the Covid-19 national lockdown experiences includes increased reports of domestic violence against spouses and children.

The media remains the only way to amplify the voices of Zimbabweans and considerable efforts made in mainstream media not only to improve coverage of gender issues but representation of women in leadership.

Finally, the conservation of environment and natural resource management will remain unattainable as long as the socio-economic needs of citizens of Zimbabwe remain unmet.

There is need to move from rhetoric to implementation, to ensure that the lived realities of Zimbabwe’s women, men, boys and girls reflects our ideals as a nation. The ideals of the liberation struggle will remain mute without gender equality and women empowerment.

There is need for adherence to the Constitution of Zimbabwe not only with regards to laws but in formulating and design of national programmes, planning, implementation, monitoring, evaluation and reporting.