Mukudzei Chingwere-Senior Reporter
CABINET has approved a new five-year women empowerment framework that seeks to expand access to finance, productive resources, employment and leadership opportunities as Zimbabwe enters the National Development Strategy 2 phase.
The National Broad-Based Women Empowerment Framework (2026-2030) builds on gains made under NDS1 and provides a new policy roadmap for increasing women’s participation in economic and social development towards the attainment of Vision 2030.
Information, Publicity and Broadcasting Services Minister Dr Zhemu Soda announced the Cabinet decision after yesterday’s meeting, saying the framework recognised women’s central role in national development.
“Cabinet considered and approved the National Broad-Based Women Empowerment Framework (2026-2030),” he said.
“The Framework is a flagship policy instrument of the Government of Zimbabwe, which will provide a coordinated, inclusive and transformative roadmap for advancing women’s empowerment.
“It recognises that women’s full and equal participation in the economy is not only a matter of social justice, but also an economic imperative, considering that women constitute 52 percent of Zimbabwe’s population and play a central role in household welfare, community resilience and national productivity.”
The framework reviews the 2016 women empowerment policy and is aligned with regional and international commitments on women’s empowerment.
Implementation will be anchored on four pillars.
The first focuses on improving women’s access to, control and ownership of productive resources, while strengthening financial inclusion.
Second pillar seeks to promote equal employment opportunities and increase women’s participation in leadership and economic decision-making.
The third pillar will promote women’s education and training, entrepreneurship and information and communication technology development.
The fourth focuses on improving access to social protection, decent work and health services.
The framework is expected to provide a coordinated approach across Government and other sectors in addressing barriers that have historically limited women’s participation in economic activity and ownership of productive assets.
It will also provide a policy foundation for integrating women into programmes being implemented under NDS2, as Government works towards Vision 2030.
The framework forms part of broader efforts to ensure economic growth is inclusive and that women have greater opportunities to contribute to and benefit from national development.
