Zimbabwe: 'Zim Accedes to Dictates On Gender'

June 19, 2006- (Herald) Zimbabwe has acceded to a number of regional and international dictates that seek to eliminate gender discrimination and advance gender equality, a Cabinet minister said last week. Officially opening the general meeting of Women in Local Government Forum (WLGF) in Harare, the Minister of Women Affairs, Gender and Community Development Cde Orpah Muchinguri said WLGF has made a significant progress in mainstreaming gender in urban councils and local government and ensuring that their concerns were properly addressed.

"I am made to understand that Urban Councils Association of Zimbabwe (UCAZ), through the lobbying and advocacy efforts of women in local government, have within its programme, a gender mainstreaming programme designed to ensure advocacy, promotion and co-ordination of gender mainstreaming.

"My ministry is very supportive of these initiatives as they are in sync with the objectives of the National Gender Policy," she said.
Cde Muchinguri also upheld the proposal on amalgamating Urban Council Association of Zimbabwe (UCAZ) and Association of Rural District Councils of Zimbabwe (ARDCZ) which will enable women in local government to carry out their activities as a united body.

"A strong and united local government association has become more important now than ever. The amalgamation of UCAZ and ARDCZ and eventual formation of Zimbabwe Local Government Association (ZILGA) requires that local authorities themselves improve their capacity to discharge the mandate given to them under decentralisation.

"It is important therefore that council officials, both elected and appointed be capacitated to ensure that they deliver efficient services to the residents," she said.Minister Muchinguri also said the National Gender Policy that was launched in March 2004 intends to redress the numerical imbalances in political and decision making by increasing the representation of women to 52 percent.

Cde Muchinguri said the main goal of the National Gender Policy was to ensure sustainable equity, equality and empowerment of women and men in Zimbabwe from all walks of life.The meeting came at a time when there are preparations for local government elections and the ministry is working flat out to ensure that women are represented in decision-making positions at all levels.

The chairperson of the commission running the affairs of the City of Harare, Ms Sekesai Makwavarara said there was enough evidence in the country to ensure that women were competent leaders and should continue to fight for more women to occupy influential positions in society.

"Women are associated with good behaviour and governance. It is just that women must not be taken for granted, as we are capable of performing just like men or even better. "Besides, we feel represented when other women are participating, as our interests will be served. Our business today is to see how we can lay a strong foundation for the new order soon to come," she said.

From: http://allafrica.com/stories/200606200784.html