. . . hurting women more
WHEN one studies for a degree, the motivation is usually to live a comfortable life.
Sally Ngoni (35) is, however, an exception to the rule, as she has given it all up for the love of her country.
With a Bachelor’s Degree in Psychology, Postgraduate Degree in Development Studies and a Diploma in Environmental Health, she could ordinarily have found employment, but she has opted to sacrifice to serve her country in a unique way.
Her fight is simple: She wants to see sanctions slapped on Zimbabwe by the United States of America, the UK and the European Union gone. The fight has seen her spend three years at makeshift lodgings just outside of the United States Embassy in Westgate, Harare, protesting against the punitive measures.
“I was the first to camp opposite the US Embassy in Westgate. I chose to fight these sanctions because as a Zimbabwean, I need to play my part in safeguarding our sovereignty and the gains of our independence,” said Ngoni.
Although it started as a spontaneous and unstructured demonstration, it has since morphed into a movement called the Broad Alliance Against Sanctions (BAAS).
At the centre of her activist movement are women, whom she says have been stripped of their dignity as a result of the illegal sanctions.
“Women have been greatly affected by sanctions because they bear all the burden in households. Usually men run away and leave women to be responsible for all household needs,” she said.
Shortages of essential medicines in hospitals, she added, was keenly felt by women as they are considered to be caregivers.
“Government cannot access enough revenue because of sanctions. There are no medicines and other equipment for patients at hospitals and you know women constitute the biggest part of our population, hence we are the most affected.”
In 2020, Zimbabwe’s female population stood at 7,8 million, about 51 percent of the populace.
“Maternity services are supposed to be free of charge but women can’t even afford proper sanitary wear even after giving birth.
Young girls have been exposed to early marriages, child labour and unwanted pregnancies,” Ngoni says.
Her views are shared by many women, who believe the country could have been in a much better position had it not been encumbered by sanctions.
Minister of Women Affairs, Community, Small and Medium Enterprise Development Dr Sithembiso Nyoni said illegal sanctions predominantly affect women in Zimbabwe.
“These sanctions are said to be targeted, but the problem comes when you target the service provider, which is the Government.
How do you expect women to be provided with their social needs?” Minister Nyoni said.
She noted that women, especially cross-border traders, have been greatly affected as they are not allowed to engage in financial activities in certain countries.
“They are limited to be involved in certain businesses and there are companies that will tell the women that we cannot do business with you because your country is on sanctions. This is the painful reality that women face,” she said.
ZANU PF Secretary for the Women’s League Cde Mabel Chinomona said claims by the West that sanctions are targeted are blatant falsehoods.
“Zimbabwe has a high number of women who die when giving birth. All this can be traced to the issue of sanctions because our health delivery system has been hampered by sanctions.
Whenever there are sanctions, development will not take place and it is the women that suffer more,” she said.
Opposition activist Mrs Linda Masarira equated sanctions to terrorism.
“Sanctions are economic terrorism, which make an economy scream.
They have a devastating impact on both the target country’s economic and political stability, and women often suffer significantly from the effects of such external shocks due to their vulnerable socio-economic and political status.
“Sanctions have denied Zimbabwe a fair opportunity to trade internationally, thus affecting women in business. Sanctions cause loss of jobs and this has a heavier burden on women as they are the ones responsible for running homes and taking care of families,” she said.
It is widely accepted that advancing women’s rights is crucial in promoting economic prosperity, good governance and social equality, which is not possible in an environment poisoned by sanctions.