‘Walk the talk on gender equality’

Herald reporter
Public and private institutions and organisations have been urged to adopt Government’s policy of 50-50 representation of women and men in their boards.
Women’s Affairs, Gender and Community Development Minister Oppah Muchinguri said this in her International Women’s Day message on Saturday.
“We are happy that the new constitution provides for the establishment of Gender Commission which will work as a watchdog in ensuring that all State institutions abide with gender equality provisions.

“I would like to urge Zimbabwean women to use the new Constitution as a lobbying tool to penetrate key economic sectors such as mining, tourism, and agriculture.
“This is already enunciated in the economic blueprint Zim-Asset and the Broad-Based Women’s Empowerment Framework,” she said.

Minister Muchinguri said there was need to celebrate the criminalisation of gender-based violence in the new Constitution, while calling for stiffer penalties for rapists.
“We should continue lobbying for deterrent sentences for rape and stiffer penalties for other forms of gender based violence.
“Specifically Section 25(b) of the Constitution obliges the State to adopt measures for the prevention of domestic violence.

“With regards to education, the State has been mandated by Section 27(2) to take measures to ensure that girls are afforded the same opportunities as boys at all levels of education,” Minister Muchinguri said.

The Ministry of Women’s Affairs, Gender and Community Development has partnered with civil society to ensure women make a meaningful contribution to the realignment processes.