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Gender Editor
The Ministry of Women Affairs, Gender and Community Development will streamline activities for two of its empowerment programmes for women following the reduction of their funding in the 2014 national budget.Although the ministry’s allocation increased by six percent from this year’s US$10,1 million to US$10,8 million for next year, the Women Development Fund which supports various programmes and policies aimed at advancing and empowering women had its allocation reduced from US$2 500 000 to US$2 450 000.
That will result in the reduction in the number of women that are expected to benefit from the revolving fund meant for women who intend to venture into business, but do not have collateral security.
Funding for gender main streaming, which is one of the core activities of the ministry, was also reduced by 50 percent from US$100 000 to US$50 000.
Presenting the 2014 national budget on December 19, Minister of Finance Patrick Chinamasa said Government remained committed to empowerment of women and would prioritise and support various programmes, against a backdrop of limited resources.
“In addition to funding women’s empowerment programmes, a revised Gender Policy that is aligned to the SADC Protocol on Gender and Development has been adopted by Government,” he said. “The 2014 Budget will support the implementation of this policy, which will institutionalise gender mainstreaming across all Government institutions.”
One of the highlights of the gender ministry was the allocation of funds to the Zimbabwe Gender Commission that will soon be set up in line with the new Constitution.
Online Reporter