The Herald (Harare)
3 November 2009
Harare — Women's empowerment contributes to national economic growth, Women's Affairs Gender and Community Development Minister Olivia Muchena has said.
Speaking at the 5th Women's University in Africa graduation ceremony in Harare last Friday, Minister Muchena said there was evidence showing that countries with economically empowered women performed better than those where they were marginalised.
"Empirical evidence from the UNDP shows that countries where women have the highest well-being measured in life expectancy, education, purchasing power and standard of living tend to be among the most prosperous.
"This demographic transition had been proved by studies that it had contributed as much as 1,4-1,9 percent of annual growth in gross domestic product in East Asia," she said.
Minister Muchena said nations with high illiteracy rate among women, high-income gaps between men and women and legislation restricting women ownership of property, tended to be the most impoverished.
She stressed that education of the girl child was vital, adding that this would lead to gender equality.
"Gender equality exposes women to more opportunities in economic, professional and political spheres and this underscores the importance of the girl's education and health at the primary level," she said. The minister paid tribute to the university for striving to address gender disparities and promote equity in higher education through a female student recruitment drive.
"Giving women tertiary education plays an important part in creating an open, equitable and fair society," she said.
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