Online Reporter
Tendai Gukutikwa and Solomon Bhumu
THE Zimbabwe Gender Commission (ZGC) has received and presided over 4 000 gender-related complaints since its inception in 2015, reflecting growing public trust in its mandate to promote gender justice.
The ZGC celebrated its 10th anniversary with a provincial gender forum in Mutare, themed – ZGC at 10: Reflecting on Achievements and the Future for Gender Equality – which brought together stakeholders from Government, civil society, and development partners to reflect on the Commission’s progress, acknowledge ongoing challenges, and map out a future strategy.
ZGC chairperson, Commissioner Margaret Mukahanana-Sangarwe revealed that the cases handled spanned a range of issues, including workplace sexual harassment, child marriages, property disputes, and gender-based violence.
She made the remarks during the Manicaland Provincial Gender Forum in Mutare yesterday.
“These cases include land and property disputes, child marriages, chieftainship conflicts, discrimination, violence and harassment in the workplace, and sexual and gender-based violence. Among these, sexual harassment stands as the most frequently reported violation, a stark reminder of the challenges we must confront as a society,” she said.
Commissioner Mukahanana-Sangarwe said that to improve the reporting process, the Commission had operationalised a dedicated call centre to facilitate complaint intake, improve documentation and allow faster responses.
“Strengthened reporting for gender-related complaints through the operationalisation of a dedicated Call Centre has significantly improved case documentation and response rates,” she added.
The Commissioner also said ZGC has played a key role in major national processes, including the 2022 National Inquiry into the Sexual Exploitation and Abuse of Young Girls and Child Marriages.
“Our research and knowledge management initiatives have driven transformative change through evidence generation and strategic advocacy. That national inquiry exposed systemic vulnerabilities, catalysed legal and policy reforms, and galvanised multi-sectoral action to protect vulnerable populations,” she said.
She noted that the findings from that inquiry catalysed key reforms and contributed to the enactment of Statutory Instrument 2 of 2024 under Presidential Powers, which strengthens the legal protection of children and young persons.
The Commissioner took participants through the commission’s decade-long journey, highlighting key achievements.
“We have held institutions accountable through rigorous monitoring of gender equality compliance across sectors. We have seen progress with some entities taking corrective measures to address gender inequalities in policy content, structures and practice,” she said.
She also said the Commission had continued to advise institutions in both public and private sectors on how to implement gender-responsive policies and practices.
Some institutions, she noted, had responded by improving gender balance in their leadership structures and systems.
However, she acknowledged that despite these successes, challenges remain.
These include limited financial resources, cultural barriers, and the Commission’s absence in some provinces, which continues to hinder national impact.
“Women still face systemic barriers at every turn. There are inaccessible justice systems weighed down by complex procedures and prohibitive costs, underrepresentation in leadership roles, economic exclusion, and a growing burden of gender-based violence and unpaid care work,” she said.
Commissioner Mukahanana-Sangarwe also said the provincial forums, being held across all 10 provinces, are a statutory precursor to the National Gender Forum.
She urged communities to take a leading role in shaping gender priorities for the next decade, saying that the forums offer a space for collective reflection and strategy.
“This platform could not have come at a better time. As Zimbabwe transitions from National Development Strategy (NDS1) to National Development Strategy (NDS2), it offers us a critical opportunity to gather nationwide perspectives on key priority areas. These insights will guide ZGC and Government at large on the key gender issues to be prioritised over the next decade,” she said.
Minister of State for Manicaland Provincial Affairs and Devolution, Advocate Misheck Mugadza, praised ZGC’s decade-long commitment to promoting gender equality.
“We commend the Commission’s efforts to eliminate discrimination and inequalities, thereby ensuring the achievement of gender equality,” said Minister Mugadza, highlighting ZGC’s advocacy successes, including increased female representation in Parliament and local authorities, where women now hold over 30 percent of positions.
Minister Mugadza applauded the ZGC’s decentralisation efforts, aligning with President Mnangagwa’s vision of leaving no one and no place behind.
“Your local presence enables stakeholders to shape gender-responsive policies that reflect real community needs, as each province presents unique challenges and opportunities,” he said.
While acknowledging progress, Minister Mugadza emphasised the need for continued effort.
“Persistent challenges, such as gender-based violence and unequal access to resources, remain. We must intensify our efforts to eliminate all forms of discrimination and violence against women and girls,” he stressed.
