Online Reporter
Wallace Ruzvidzo,Harare Burea
THE United Nations has expressed strong interest in studying Zimbabwe’s constitutional clauses concerning gender equality, according to Ms Nicola Clase, Chair of the UN Women Executive Board. Ms Clase, who is leading a delegation to gain a deeper understanding of the UN’s operations in Harare, made the remarks following a courtesy meeting with President Mnangagwa at State House yesterday.
Ms Clase expressed confidence that she would return to New York with “very good impressions” of Zimbabwe’s stance on gender equality.
“So, I think we will go back to New York with very good impressions and we have all received a copy of your Constitution that we promised to really look into and study because there are some very interesting paragraphs there on gender equality. I think gender equality is something that all countries are working on,” she said.
The UN Women Executive Board Chair noted that her visit to Zimbabwe had so far culminated in progressive discussions on gender equality. UN Women is the United Nations entity dedicated to gender equality and the empowerment of women, established to accelerate progress on meeting their needs worldwide.
“And I think we have been having really good discussions on implementation, as is usually the case in countries . . . and what kind of challenges that the country is facing and where progress is being made . . . so, I think really good discussions,” she said. “But we also note that these are discussions, as I just said, that you have in most countries.”
Ms Clase also briefed the President on their itinerary during their stay in the country. The Second Republic has demonstrated a strong commitment to gender equality and women empowerment.
“So, first of all, we are extremely grateful that your President received us today, this delegation, and representing the Executive Board of UN Women. It was a great honour for us to have this meeting. We had the opportunity to inform the President about our week here in Zimbabwe, where we are going to have very many different meetings. We started already yesterday (Monday). Before this meeting, we just came from a meeting with Parliamentarians,” she said.
Ms Clase said the delegation’s mission also included identifying areas where Zimbabwe needs support in furthering gender equality and women empowerment.
“So, I think what we are here to look at is, of course, the work of UN Women and how UN Women works in the UN system, and also can work in supporting Zimbabwe. So that is the mission that we are on,” said the Board Chair.
Ms Clase went on to commend the warm welcome the delegation had received since their arrival in the country.
“I think we have been really fascinated by the warmth and the hospitality that we have been receiving throughout, actually, the two days we have been here. We are also going on a field trip to Bulawayo, which we are very much looking forward to,” said Ms Clase.
