Women Affairs Ministry on law awareness drive

Mncedisi Buhali Sunday News Reporter
THE Ministry of Women Affairs, Gender and Community Development in conjunction with Legal Resources Foundation has embarked on a programme of raising awareness of the law among women and in making them aware of a women development fund to empower them. Speaking at a workshop in Bulawayo recently, the development co-ordinator in the ministry covering Ward 10 and 12 Miss Priscilla Moyo said the two organisations wanted to ensure women understood what the law says about marriage and inheritance and to also encourage them to engage more in different businesses using the funds offered by the ministry.

“The money is given to women as a loan so that they may be able to do their own businesses. It is given to an individual, who already has something to do, not someone who is yet to plan,” she said.

Mrs Moyo said the fund was in two categories – a $5 000 loan that is payable in two years and $300 loan that is payable in six months.
“The reason we give you loans is that, the ministry does not have enough money for all people now. The money has to be used and returned so that it can help others,” she said.

Mrs Moyo said the ministry particularly looked at empowerment of women, gender and community development.
She added, particular attention was given to women in agriculture, baking and mining.

Addressing women on issues concerning the law, an official from Legal Resources Foundation, Miss Nokuthula Ncube said women must understand what the law says about marriage.

“Any marriage has to be one of the three marriages that are allowed in Zimbabwe. Anything other than that, it is not a marriage, things like, “Omasihlalisane”. Even if people stay together for six months, they are not in a marriage unless and until one of the three weddings are performed,” said Miss Ncube.

She added that the three marriages allowed in Zimbabwe are, chapter 5.11 which is performed at the court by the magistrate or can be done at church, chapter 5.07 which can be done at court but allows a man to have more than one wife, and traditional marriage.