Enforce gender economic policy, firms urged

are holding a week long workshop to assess gender responsiveness, economic policy, management and initiation to gender issues.

Economic advisor of the UNDP Mr James Wakiaga said Zimbabwe was making a significant turnaround towards the revival of the economy and placing the country on a path of sustainable development.
The programme which ends tomorrow is aimed at enhancing societies knowledge, the gender awareness policy, how to mainstream gender issues into economic policy and management to bring women equality and women empowerment in various sectors of the economy ranging from ICT, mining, media, public works and agriculture.

Acting secretary for Women Affairs, Gender and Community Development Mrs Caroline Matizha said such initiatives were critical for gender mainstreaming in this country.

“The gender responsive economic policy management capacity building programme on GEPMI is of critical importance as it will definitely revolutionise the whole discourse of gender mainstreaming in Zimbabwe as each and every sector of Government will take upon itself to ensure that the principle of gender equality is enshrined in their policies and programmes.”

The programme is aimed at educating the participants on the need to continue promoting gender equality and economic empowerment of women as effective ways to stimulate development that is truly sustainable which is possible through mainstreaming gender into economic development initiatives.

The UNDP is providing funding and technical assistance to the Ministry of Women Affairs, Gender and Community Development and the Ministry of Economic Planning and Investment Promotion to empower women in the business sector as they contribute to growth of the economy.
Women are being encouraged to take part in these activities and programmes so that they may receive the assistance they need and continue to take part in the ongoing indigenisation programme and to help boost the economy.

Mrs Matizha urged the ministries to take positive steps towards addressing gender inequalities in their respective sectors by seriously embracing and implementing the gender responsive economic policy management initiative.

Through this process all ministries will be required to ensure that they incorporate gender issues into their policies.