President Mnangagwa empowers women amidst GBV concerns

PRESIDENT Mnangagwa has been praised for empowering women by appointing them to various positions in the Government.

Addressing a Matabeleland North International Women’s Day celebrations in Mbamba, Tsholotsho District, Tsholotsho South MP, Cde Musa Ncube, thanked the President for appointing women to positions of authority, among them Mrs Virginia Mabiza as the country’s first female Attorney

General, and Justice Loice Matanda-Moyo as the first female Prosecutor General, in addition to women serving as Cabinet ministers.

The President has also approved a 30 percent quota system in local authorities, to ensure more women hold positions of power.

Under the Second Republic, several women have been elevated to positions of authority as part of the inclusive development agenda and in keeping with global best practice.

However, despite such progress, Gender-Based Violence (GBV) against women remains a concern.

“We want to acknowledge the support that the President has given us in empowering women. Some women have been placed in positions of power in Government in a clear sign of confidence that the President has in us,” said Cde Ncube.

Matabeleland North Provincial Affairs and Devolution Minister, Richard Moyo, said while the Government has empowered women, it was worrying that they are still subjected to abuse.

“Gender equality is in line with National Development Strategy 1 and Vision 2030 of leaving no one and no place behind. So, I encourage all the various stakeholders to invest in women and accelerate progress. But GBV is a drawback in terms of women realising gender equality.

“Initiatives such as HE 4 SHE have been adopted to encourage men to play a critical role in the empowerment of women in line with the National Gender Policy,” said Minister Moyo.

He encouraged women to take up opportunities availed by the Government to develop themselves.

“Women make up 52 percent of the population and because of that there are various schemes under the Ministry of Women’s Affairs, Community, Small and Medium Enterprises that offer financial aid to women so they can achieve economic empowerment,” he said.

Matabeleland North Senator, Cde Alice Dube, said women need to be financially independent as this shields them from abuse.

“Some women are mothers, wives, and some employees, and they tend to focus more on being good at those roles, forgetting they need to take care of the woman who is behind all that hard work. Some are even abused or have been abused at some point in their life, but I encourage all women not to let that define them,” she said.

“Please walk confidently and don’t look down on yourself. Let us not be bitter with each other, but rather support and uplift each other as our mother, the First Lady Auxilia Mnangagwa, always encourages us to do.”