Improving the status of women in Zimbabwe across the board has long been a priority for government, Minister of Women Affairs Gender and Community Development, Nyasha Chikwinya has said.
Speaking at the official launch of the revised National Gender Policy, Chikwinya said the goal of the policy is to eradicate gender discrimination and inequalities in all spheres of life and development.
“Improving the status of women in Zimbabwe across the board has long been a priority for Government and this is why Gender equality is guaranteed in the Zimbabwean Constitution.
“Therefore the goal of the policy is to eradicate gender discrimination and inequalities in all spheres of life and development. This National Gender Policy therefore provides a new framework for gender equality and equity.
“It also defines the institutional arrangements through which the policy will be implemented and a framework for monitoring and evaluating the progress and achievements of this policy,” said Chikwinya.
According to Chikwinya, the policy will ensure that the constitutional and national legislative provisions on gender justice are implemented.
She added that the policy should also help Zimbabwe meet its gender equality targets as set out in regional and international instruments to which Zimbabwe is a signatory to, including CEDAW and SADC Protocol on Gender and Development.
Chikwinya said her ministry has the overall responsibility towards the implementation of National Gender Policy.
“The Ministry of Women Affairs, Gender and Community Development have the overall responsibility towards implementing this policy. It is my sincere hope that the revised National Policy on Gender will be a tool to close the gaps of gender inequality, she said.
Chikwinya expressed concern that in most areas, the reality still falls short of gender parity targets as disparities still exist in some key public and private institutions.
