Women status still far from ideal

recently in Switzerland where Zimbabwe was represented by Ministers Olivia Muchena (Women’s Affairs) and Sekai Holland (Organ on National Healing).
Several civil society organisations were also present and they presented — before the country review process — a shadow report detailing the warped nature of certain sections and provisions of the Zimbabwean Constitution and the regulatory environment affecting women’s rights in Zimbabwe.
Critically, the CEDAW committee’s review of Zimbabwe revealed how the current status of Zimbabwean women is still far from ideal. Among other issues, the country’s Constitution still discriminates against women particularly on the grounds of important issues like inheritance and cultural practices as well as custody of children after divorce.
Women are the majority population in Zimbabwe (51 percent); over 80 percent of them live in communal areas where they form the bulk of the farmers and also provide the most labour.
They also work between 16 and 18 hours daily, spending at least 49 percent of their time on agricultural activities. But despite these scenarios, ownership and control of agricultural land and resources remain heavily dominated by men.
Over 80 percent ownership of A1 and A2 land lies with men, while women own less than 18 percent. Consequently, this affects women’s access to main economic and financial resources.
The concluding observations made on Zimbabwe by the CEDAW Committee largely reflect the views of civil society and also carry specific recommendations that if implemented fully will vastly improve the status of women in Zimbabwe.
Of particular interest were observations made on the situation of rural women. It is of great importance to unpack this in view of the fact that March is women’s month and the theme for International Women’s Day commemorated on March 8 in Zimbabwe was “Empower rural women: eradicate poverty and hunger”.
The CEDAW Committee expressed concern at the disadvantaged position of women in rural and remote areas, who experience poverty, difficulties in access to health and social services and a lack of participation in decision-making processes at the community level.
The Committee also noted the prevalence of discriminatory customs and traditional practices, which particularly prevent rural women from inheriting or acquiring ownership of land and other property, as well as from accessing to credit facilities and community services.
Under the Land Reform Programme; the Government set aside a 20 percent quota for women, however, major concerns remain about the fact that access of rural women to land is limited as compared to men in rural land ownership. Only 10 percent of the land under the Land Reform Programme was allocated to women. This necessitates a need to monitor the implementation of the Land Reform Programme to ensure that the quotas for women are achieved.
As recommended by the committee, the State should pay special attention to the needs of rural women to ensure that they have access to health, education, clean water and sanitation services, fertile land and income-generating projects.
All forms of discrimination should also be eliminated with respect to ownership, co-sharing and inheritance of land; while negative customs and traditional practices, especially in rural areas, which affect full enjoyment of the right to property by women, are addressed.
Zimbabwe will be expected to submit its next periodic report to the CEDAW Committee in February 2016. It is therefore crucial that the State works together with civil society to ensure participation and consultation with women and human rights organisations in the coming phase.
The concluding observations of CEDAW on Zimbabwe following the 51st session held on February 13-March 2 2012 are available on the ZWRCN website, www.zwrcn.org.