Chronicle EditorFairness Moyana in Hwange, Sunday News Reporter
GOVERNMENT has been called to continue developing strategies that seek to ensure inclusion of indigenous communities in the national development discourse in line with President Mnangagwa’s philosophy of not leaving no-one and no place behind.
Officiating at the inaugural Women’s Cultural Festival in Hwange yesterday organised by Women’s Coalition of Zimbabwe (WCoZ) in partnership with Ministry of Women Affairs, Community Small and Medium Enterprises Development, Chief Whange said the empowerment of indigenous communities which were marginalized was everyone’s responsibility.
“Rural indigenous communities in Zimbabwe and the world over remain adversely marginalized and are regarded as peripheral to the world that counts. In Zimbabwe, there are a number of indigenous communities that are incessantly facing exclusion, invisibility from the national development discourse and women’s rights interventions. These communities include the Tonga, Nambya and San, largely found in the Matebeleland North Province. It is therefore critical to develop and implement strategies for reminding and holding to account duty-bearers and the nation at large, of their obligation towards leaving no-one behind in all national and global development processes,” said Chief Whange.
He applauded the hosting of the festival arguing that it was an ideal platform for amplifying marginalized voices particularly those of women through music, art, dance and cultural showcase.
“The Women’s Cultural Festival’s overall purpose is aimed at amplifying the voice of indigenous and women from rural communities, providing a platform for the women living in rural areas to interface with relevant duty bearers and service providers as well as showcase their culture, work and achievements through music, dance, art and conversations.”
Chief Whange said the festival afforded communities an opportunity to speak out against harmful cultural practices such as child marriages.
“Furthermore, this festival presents a platform for communities at large to come together and speak against harmful cultural practices, child marriages and gender-based violence that have affected women and girls with the number of cases increasing alarmingly over the past few years.
“Reports have indicated that between January 2021 and February 2021, nearly 5 000 teenage girls in Zimbabwe became pregnant, and about 1 800 entered early marriages during the same period. According to Plan International, currently 31% of girls under the age of 18 are married and of these, 4% were married under 15 years of age.
“It is our role as the community to protect the girls and women from these harmful cultural practices, and not to promote them. We commend our culture for also having in place methods of reporting and reprimanding those that are caught on the wrong side of the law when it comes to crimes such as these.”
As part of ensuring women inclusion in decision making Chief Whange said it was vital to appoint them in influential positions including traditional leadership.
“In addition, women constitute 52% of the Zimbabwean population, therefore there is need for women’s inclusion in decision making positions at all levels. Women should also take up position as traditional leaders, we need to have female Sabhukus and in our community structures or committees lets ensure 50/50 representation,” he added.
WCoZ Hwange chapter chairlady, Ms Sera Phiri said the festival was held in commemoration of Africa Day with the ultimate aim of amplifying voices of indigenous women. The festival also featured exhibition of traditional foods and crops found in Matabeleland province.
“The festival which will explore intersectional feminism and culture, brings together marginalized indigenous women from Hwange, Kazungula, Binga, Tsholotsho and other surrounding areas,” she said.
The festival which ran under the theme “Celebrating African Women’s Resilience saw over 10 arts groups such as Intembawuzyo Arts Group, Chilimba, Pezhuba Pechena and Achimwene from Hwange, Victoria Falls, Lupane and Binga showcasing their talent.
The organization is advocating for space to push for redress on prioritisation and acceleration of increasing access to information, opportunities, services and support for realisation and enjoyment of indigenous women’s rights.
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