Online Reporter
Remember Deketeke
Herald Correspondent
THE Permanent Secretary for Women Affairs, Community, Small and Medium Enterprises Development, Dr Mavis Sibanda, has called for the strengthening of Zimbabwe’s national gender coordination structures.
She made the call during a high-level breakfast meeting between senior Government officials and the visiting United Nations Assistant Secretary-General and UN Women Deputy Executive director, Dr Nyaradzayi Gumbonzvanda in Harare today.
Dr Sibanda said the gathering was aimed at strengthening the National Gender Machinery and advancing the operationalisation of the broader National Gender Multi-Stakeholder Coordination Mechanism.
“Permanent Secretaries, your support is crucial to the Gender Mainstreaming and Inclusivity Directorates,” she said.
“It ensures accountability and sustained impact in implementing our national, regional and global gender commitments.”
She said the meeting responded to long-standing calls by directors for gender mainstreaming, inclusivity and wellness for stronger involvement by senior management in government ministries.
Dr Sibanda said her ministry had developed a National Gender Machinery Coordination Framework to improve planning, implementation and evaluation of gender equality and women’s empowerment initiatives across Government.
“This framework is particularly important in the context of the recently launched National Development Strategy 2, which calls for gender mainstreaming across all sectors,” she said.
“Achieving equitable and inclusive Vision 2030 requires robust coordination among government, civil society, traditional and religious leaders, the private sector and development partners.”
She said the framework demonstrated Zimbabwe’s commitment to a whole-of-Government and whole-of-society approach, adding that gender equality was a collective responsibility.
Dr Sibanda expressed gratitude to UN Women for supporting the development of the framework, saying it would strengthen national accountability systems and delivery of results.
“We are grateful to UN Women for their invaluable support, which will enhance our planning, implementation and evaluation of Gender Equality and Women’s Empowerment initiatives,” she said.
The Permanent Secretary said Dr Gumbonzvanda’s visit, from January 12 to 16, came at a critical time as Zimbabwe seeks to reinforce its gender coordination mechanisms under NDS2.
“As Zimbabwe, we are privileged to have Dr Nyaradzayi Gumbonzvanda visiting us. Her global mandate to strengthen gender machineries is pivotal in advancing our national efforts,” she said.
“Her presence today reflects her dedication to supporting our Government’s efforts to enhance the National Gender Machinery and operationalise the broader National Gender Multi-Stakeholder Coordination Mechanism.”
She added that the meeting would also explore new areas of collaboration with UN Women to improve Zimbabwe’s visibility and impact on the global stage.
“We are deeply committed to working in close partnership with UN Women to ensure our institutional frameworks and coordination mechanisms deliver transformative outcomes aligned with Vision 2030,” Dr Sibanda said.
