Govt challenged to translate gender policy into reality JOHANNESBURG — Women’s Coalition of Zimbabwe chairperson Virginia Muwanigwa has challenged government to translate its gender policy into reality to ensure women enjoy equal opportunities as their male counterparts in all sectors of the economy. In 2013, Zimbabwe adopted a new Constitution which recognises gender equality as a basic right, but women pressure groups are still worried at the slow pace at which government is implementing the provision. Addressing guests at the ninth Regional Sadc Gender Protocol Summit in Johannesburg, South Africa, yesterday, Muwanigwa said: “The most disappointing thing is not accessing your rights. You have rights that are clearly outlined, but you cannot access them. Although the Constitution now says that there should be gender balance, we now find that we have to go to the local government level and start to lobby for them to be in line with the Constitution.” Zimbabwe has made strides towards achieving equal gender representation in recent years, but the numbers have been fluctuating with female representatives at local government dropping from 19% to 16,7% in the previous election while the percentage of women in the Senate rose to 48% from 9% in recent years. “Going forward in post-2015, the leadership should be targeted for accountability to deliver on instruments they have signed,” Muwanigwa said. - Newsday
Posted on: Wed, 28 May 2014 06:51:39 +0000
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