Published by the government of Zimbabwe
9 November 2009
Harare — ACTING President Joice Mujuru has challenged women in rural areas to shun laziness and work hard to transform small community initiatives into huge income generating projects to sustain their families.
Addressing a gathering at the national Rural Women's Day belated commemorations at Dotito in Mt Darwin last Friday, Cde Mujuru urged women to fight for recognition through hard work.
"I would like to encourage all women, men, girls and boys, here today, to work hard in taking care of your families and shun laziness as this is what God expects of us," she said, quoting the bible.
"Proverbs 31 verse 27 describes a virtuous woman saying 'she is watching over the goings on of her household, and the bread of laziness she does not eat'.
"We want women who dress themselves, build their own houses using money from their projects. Gone are the days when people were afraid to live good lives for fear of showing off."
She said equal rights that women were demanding were not necessarily leadership positions but equal opportunities to access education and employment.
"Women also played a vital role in emancipating the country hence should be recognised not only in leadership positions but also in accessing the same quality of education and employment as men if they are equally competent," she said.
This year's commemorations were held under the theme: "Rural Women and Household Food Security."
In line with this year's theme, Cde Mujuru said Government was supporting women in rural areas with farming inputs under the Tseu/Bindu/Isiphala Sikamama programme for 2009/2010 agricultural season.
"Government values the critical role that rural women play in enhancing food security and that is why Government is supporting them with farming inputs.
"Rural women have the traditional role of participating in crop production and livestock care, providing food, water and energy for their families and engaging in off-farm activities to supplement the family income," she said.
During the commemorations, Cde Mujuru officially handed over six tonnes of maize seed, tonnes of fertilizer, sorghum, mealie meal, blankets to be distributed among the disabled, child headed households and the elderly in Dotito.
She also handed over a candle making machine, oil and peanut butter processing machines to the community.
According to the Food and Agriculture Organisation (2006) report, Zimbabwean women contribute 70 percent of the labour force in communal areas.
Rural women in particular are responsible for three-quarters of Zimbabwe's food production and produce between 60 and 80 percent of the food in the country.
To this end, Cde Mujuru said Government made efforts towards empowering rural women through enacting laws and policies such as the Maintenance Amendment, Administration of Estates Amendment, Sexual Offences and the Domestic Violence Acts.
These laws and policies enhance the status of women in society.
Cde Mujuru said Government had employed officers at district and ward levels who interacted with rural women to disseminate information on such laws and regulations to rural women for national development.
Speaking at the same occasion, Women Affairs, Gender and Community Development Minister Olivia Muchena urged women to work with the ward co-ordinators to uplift the status of women and enhance community development.
The International Women's Day is commemorated annually on October 15 worldwide.
Attending this year's commemorations were Youth Development, Indigenisation and Empowerment Minister Saviour Kasukuwere, Minister of State in Vice President Mujuru's Office, Silvester Nguni, and former Water Resources and Infrastructural Development minister, Cde Munacho Mutezo.
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