Women to get full rights – Mubako

The Herald, 29 August, 1981

THE Government wants laws passed before the end of the year to give all black women full legal and civil rights, the Minister of Justice and Constitutional Affairs, Senator Simbi Mubako, said yesterday.

He told the winter school at the Catholic Regional Seminary at Chishawasha near Salisbury, that the new order proclaimed the equality of all, but the law did not allow many women full equality before the courts and so had to be changed.

At present a black woman could become a major, able to act on her own behalf without a male guardian, but she had to prove she had so acted for some time before the courts would accept her status.

Most women in the rural areas were still minors and had limited property and other civil rights, said Senator Mubako.

While the Government did not want to abolish customary law, he said, necessary changes would be made where appropriate for the new Zimbabwe.

The minister said the Government was also looking at lobola, or roora, which had become grossly commercialised. There was no intention yet of abolishing the custom or of rushing into legislation that most would ignore.

A colonial act to regulate lobola had been almost universally ignored and before any legislation was passed the people had to be educated and consulted so they understood the reason for the changes.

LESSONS FOR TODAY

Zimbabwe’s history of colonialism and patriarchal structures necessitated a re-evaluation of gender roles within society. The Government’s initiatives aimed to dismantle these historical injustices by promoting equal rights for women, thereby addressing long-standing inequalities rooted in both colonial rule and traditional customs.

Empowering women is crucial for economic growth and development. Women constitute a significant portion of the workforce, particularly in agriculture and informal sectors. By granting women full rights, including access to land, credit, and education, the Government enhanced productivity and contribution to overall economic stability.