Slow progress on gender parity plans

LETTICIA MAGOMBO

Progress towards meeting gender parity targets in Parliament and other decision making positions across sectors in Zimbabwe is slower than expected, a report by the Parliamentary Portfolio Committee on Gender and Development shows.

The report presented in Parliament follows a recent benchmark visit to Rwanda by the Committee.

It shows that women make up less than 30% of Parliamentary positions.

The committee is pushing for a 50/50 representation.

The report, which was presented by Senator Chief Ndlovu highlighted that Zimbabwe was far behind Rwanda in terms of ensuring gender parity.

He said the committee observed during the visit Rwanda has got a significant number of women participation in decision-making.

“Article 75 (1 and 2) of the Rwanda Constitution and the mission of Revised Rwanda National Gender Policy (2021) aimed to ensure that gender gaps across sectors are addressed through accelerating effective gender mainstreaming, gender responsive interventions and gender accountability to position Rwanda as a global model in promoting gender equality,” the committee said.

“In comparison to Zimbabwe, which lacks implementation of the legal and policy frameworks that guides the country towards, gender equality is asserted in section 17 (a, b, c) of the Constitution. It is also clear that appointment and elections in government bodies are not considerate about gender parity in Zimbabwe as rightly stipulated in the constitution.

The report said Rwanda is “well advanced in terms of women participation in politics, decision-making and women empowerment”.

“There is a need for the Government of Zimbabwe to adopt the best practices of the Rwandan Government as the country is embracing the attainment of the vision 2030 of becoming an upper middle-income economy, “ part of the report reads.