Govt drafts Gender Equality Bill

Addressing delegates at a conference on Intersectionality in Climate Change, Adaptation and Resilience Harare today, Ministry of Women Affairs, Small and Medium Enterprises Development chief director gender and women affairs, Mrs Lilian Matsika-Takaendesa, said the Ministry was dedicated to ensuring the country’s climate response was inclusive and taking into account the realities faced by women, men, boys and girls.

Remember Deketeke-Herald Correspondent

GOVERNMENT’s initiative to draft a Gender Equality Bill that will guarantee 50 percent female representation in all sectors of the economy is a major step towards promoting women’s rights and empowerment.

The Bill aims to guarantee support and safeguard women’s interests in various aspects of life.

The Government, through the Ministry of Women Affairs, Small and Medium Enterprises Development has begun consultations with local authorities, civil society organisations and community leaders among other stakeholders.

Speaking on the sidelines of the national stakeholder consultative meeting on the AU Convention on Ending Violence Against Women and Girls in Harare last week, Gender Policy Planning and Programme Chief director Mrs Lilian Matsika-Takaendesa said consultations have begun.

“As a ministry, we know that it has come out from different stakeholders that we should come up with a Gender Equality Act as a country which will improve the way we mainstream gender in all public and private sector spheres,” she said.

“We are now in the process of consulting different stakeholders on what they want the Bill to touch on, but we are also in the process of looking for partners who are able to come out to fund the processes of consultation.”

The process, Mrs Matsika-Takaendesa said, will encompass everyone starting from the village level up to central government where the Bill will be enacted.

“So, this is not about ministries working alone, because we believe in working with different partners and also the communities themselves, and the women in the communities, the girls in the communities, the chiefs who are also the custodians of our culture,” she added.

“We want to bring all the stakeholders together to consult and lobby for the development of the Bill.”

Zimbabwe Gender Commission (ZGC) Commissioner Obert Matshalaga said the ZGC is consulting with pertinent parties who can assist in the legislation’s drafting.

“We are currently consulting with the relevant stakeholders, plus we are seeking guidance from the consultants who can adapt the legislation for us,” he said.