Rumbidzai Mushonga — Full participation of women in all spheres of society based on equality with men is a major Government initiative, Minister of Women Affairs, Community, Small and Medium Enterprise Development Monica Mutsvangwa said yesterday at the gender equality and women empowerment development partner and stakeholders meeting in Harare.
While the Government had made significant strides in promoting gender equality and women empowerment, there were special interventions put in place to strengthen the prevention of gender-based violence.
While progress was being made and empowerment offered through policies, laws and programmes, there was still a lot of work to be done to ensure that women and girls enjoyed equal rights and opportunities in all spheres of life and to ensure the achievement of gender equality and women empowerment, said the Minister.
"Gaps and challenges are derailing the achievement of gender equality and women empowerment include limited implementation of legal and policy frameworks, the lower economic status of women, the impact of climate change shocks, the high levels of gender-based violence, and the weak adherence to constitutional principles in women's political participation," said Minister Mutsvangwa.
She highlighted some of the achievements that Government had made, such as the adoption of a Constitution that guaranteed the full participation of women in society based on equality with men, the launch of the National Development Strategy 1 that recognised gender equality and women empowerment as key issues, and the implementation of several interventions to strengthen GBV prevention and response.
Minister Mutsvangwa emphasised that the country had to act fast to overcome the obstacles and meet the sustainable development goals.
"With just six years remaining before the year 2030, the target year for the sustainable development goals, he country was faced with no choice, but to accelerate actions to address these challenges and ensure the achievement of the SDGs and the national development frameworks," she said
Her Ministry could not single-handedly keep the national spotlight on gender equality and women's rights, nor could it reduce the gender inequality gaps alone.
"Agenda 2030 underscored that an integrated sustainable development agenda required an equally synergistic framework for addressing all human development issues, including gender equality and women empowerment."
Minister Mutsvangwa thanked the commitment and support that stakeholders, including the UN agencies, civil society organisations, and the private sector, had shown over the years in working with the ministry and other Government institutions to advance gender equality and women empowerment in Zimbabwe.
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She urged them to continue collaborating and coordinating their efforts to create a more inclusive and equitable society where women and girls can reach their full potential.
"We have achieved a lot, but we have a lot more to do. We cannot afford to be complacent or to slow down. We need to work together, with a sense of urgency and a sense of purpose, to make gender equality and women empowerment a reality for all," she said.
"We have the constitutional mandate, we have the national vision, we have the global agenda, and we have the support of our partners. What we need now is the political will, the resources, the accountability, and the action to make it happen," she added.
