Network launched

Prime Minister Thokozani Khupe, who is the President of GlobalPower Women Network said the network would deliver real change to women.
“We are making a strong statement today. A statement that voices of women in Zimbabwe should never be ignored again,” DPM Khupe said.

She said the network sought to ensure that no budget or policy was passed without taking into considera­tion the needs of women and girls. “We want to put the gender agenda into Cabinet and into Parliament,” she said.
DPM Khupe urged fellow women in leadership positions to put aside party politics when it came to women’s issues for them to achieve their goals.

The GlobalPower Women Network for Africa was launched recently in Washington and its first summit was held in Zimbabwe in May. It promotes discussion of accelerated action for women empowerment and gender equality in the area of HIV and Sexual and Reproductive Health Rights.
Speaking at the same occasion, SAfAids executive director Ms Lois Chingandu challenged the network to tackle issues of maternity user fees, unfreezing of health posts and empow­ering young people as a priority.

Ms Chingandu said the network should challenge Government to bring health services to the people through mobile clinics. “We are ready to support this endeavour and we are confident that we will be able to do it with the DPM’s leadership,” she said.