Online Reporter
The Zimbabwe Gender Commission (ZGC) is one of the five independent Chapter 12 Commissions established by the Constitution of Zimbabwe to support democracy, promote human rights, and strengthen accountability.
ZGC was operationalised in 2015, following the adoption of the 2013 Constitution, to respond to the country’s urgent need for a dedicated institution mandated to promote, protect, and monitor gender equality and equity.
Our core mandate, as enshrined in Section 246 of the Constitution and the Zimbabwe Gender Commission Act \[Chapter 10:31], is to:
Monitor issues concerning gender equality to ensure compliance with the Constitution.
Investigate possible violations of rights relating to gender.
Receive and consider complaints from the public.
Conduct research into gender-related issues.
Recommend affirmative action to address gender imbalances.
Advise public and private institutions on steps to achieve gender equality.
Recommend law reform to eliminate gender discrimination.
Promote gender mainstreaming across all sectors.
For the past 10 years, ZGC has worked tirelessly to dismantle systemic barriers to equality, respond to violations of gender rights, and amplify women’s, men’s, and marginalised groups’ voices across Zimbabwe.
A Decade of Impact
Since 2015, ZGC has been at the forefront of Zimbabwe’s gender equality movement. Some of our most notable milestones include:
Law and Policy Reform: Development of principles for the Gender Equality Act and Sexual Harassment Act; contributions to the Labour Amendment Act criminalising sexual harassment; and advocacy leading to amendments in the Children’s Act, Criminal Law Codification and Reform Act, and Education Act.
Groundbreaking Inquiries: The 2022 National Inquiry on Sexual Exploitation and Abuse of Young Girls and Child Marriages reshaped public discourse, resulting in landmark child protection reforms.
Case Handling and Complaints Resolution: ZGC has handled over 11,000 gender-related cases — from workplace harassment to property rights, child marriages, and GBV—providing redress and accountability pathways.
Institutional Decentralisation: Establishment of provincial offices in five provinces and permanent headquarters the “House of Gender Equality”—in Harare.
Political Empowerment: The Women Rise in Politics programme and gender audits of political parties expanded women’s voice and participation in governance.
Community Engagement: Male-only symposiums, grassroots dialogues, and gender forums broke down misconceptions that gender is only about women, building inclusive discourse.
As Zimbabwe transitions from NDS1 to NDS2, ZGC is committed to ensuring that gender equality is fully embedded in the national development agenda. The next decade will focus on:
Strengthening access to justice for survivors of GBV and discrimination.
Deepening political and economic empowerment for women, youth, and marginalised groups.
Harnessing technology and innovation for gender-responsive programming.
Scaling decentralisation to reach all provinces and grassroots communities.
Expanding partnerships with government, civil society, private sector and development partners
The Commission extends heartfelt gratitude to the Government of Zimbabwe, particularly the Ministry of Women Affairs, Community, Small and Medium Enterprises Development, for continued collaboration; to our funding partners, civil society, Chapter 12 institutions, traditional leaders, political parties, and development partners for your steadfast support; and to the citizens of Zimbabwe for entrusting us with the responsibility to protect and promote gender equality.
As we mark this 10th Anniversary, ZGC stands proud of its journey and resolute in its mission: “To build a Zimbabwe where gender equality is not an aspiration but a lived reality for every citizen.
