Online Reporter
Tapiwanashe Mangwiro
THE latest Demographic and Health Survey (DHS) for 2023–24 released by the Zimbabwe National Statistics Agency (ZimStat) presents compelling evidence that the nation is making measurable strides towards genuine gender equality.
From employment to control over earnings and participation in household decisions, the data reveal a landscape where women are steadily moving from the margins to the centre of economic and social life.
As ZimStat itself observed, “In the 12 months prior to the survey, 55 percent of currently married women and 92 percent of currently married men aged 15–49 were employed.”
This gap, while still significant, marks an increase in female labour-force participation since previous surveys.
Employment is often the first step on the path to empowerment. ZimStat defines employment broadly: “Respondents are considered to be employed if they have done any work other than their housework in the 12 months before the survey.”
Among married women aged 15–49, employment has grown from 44 percent in 2010–11 to 55 percent today, a testament to intensified efforts in skills training and enterprise support.
Notably, ZimStat highlighted that among those who were employed, more married men than married women received cash payments, either cash only or cash and in-kind payments for their work, at 92 percent versus 84 percent, respectively.
While 15 percent of women still go unpaid, this figure has fallen from previous years, signalling that women’s labour is gaining the monetary recognition it deserves.
Ms Gladys Shumbambiri-Mutsopotsi, an economist, believes economic empowerment cannot occur in a vacuum.
“As more women enter the workforce and earn cash, 68 percent receive cash only and a further 16 percent cash and in-kind—they gain not only financial independence but also leverage in household and community decision-making,” Ms Shumbambiri-Mutsopotsi said.
True empowerment comes with agency over one’s own resources. According to ZimStat, “51 percent of currently married women and 71 percent of currently married men with cash earnings reported making joint decisions with their spouse on the use of their earnings.”
Moreover, the share of women who make those decisions alone has risen dramatically, from around 32 percent in 2015 to 44 percent in 2023–24.
ZimStat notes, “Forty-four percent said that they mainly make decisions alone, while 5 percent reported that their husband is the main decision-maker.”
Tendai Chikowore, gender rights advocate and founder of the Harare-based non-governmental organisation Women’s Futures, argued, “Joint decision-making on earnings is a cornerstone of equitable relationships. When nearly half of married women report autonomy over their income, it not only uplifts families but also shifts societal norms towards genuine partnership.”
Ultimately, empowerment manifests in the everyday choices that shape family life. ZimStat reports that, “75 percent of currently married women and 76 percent of currently married men participate in major household decisions.”
This near-parity reflects a societal shift where women’s voices are not merely heard but heeded, across questions from family planning to children’s schooling and household spending.
Zimbabwe’s DHS 2023–24 paints a hopeful picture: women are not only entering the workforce in greater numbers but are also commanding control over their earnings and shaping the future of their households. While gaps remain, especially in equitable pay and unfettered access to financial services, the trajectory is clear.
Peter Tanyanyiwa