EDITOR — MARCH marks Women’s History Month where women are celebrated the world over. It takes place from March 1 to 31. This year’s theme is ‘Invest in women: Accelerate Progress’. It highlights the importance of gender equality, women’s and girls’ empowerment and their right to healthier lives.
African women have made extraordinary achievements and contributions.
The world would like to believe that African women have been treated as second-class citizens, whose role was only and confined to the duties around the home. They were excluded from high-profile occupations and positions of power.
Our African women have the power to create positive change in their communities through their unwavering determination. Our African culture gives so much relevance to women. Grant them a space that allows them to showcase their abilities and make a contribution to society.
It goes right back to Mbuya Nehanda who bravely played a crucial role in the fight against white colonials by leading the First Chimurenga. She was unyielding in her fight for freedom until her last breath; it is a price she paid heavily for our freedom as she remained resolute in her desire to free Zimbabwe.
Today we celebrate her as we celebrate Women’s Month. For it is by her blood and other women’s that we get to taste freedom. She is that symbol of resistance that has inspired thousands of women to resist the heartless sanctions wrought on the country and its leaders. Women continue to work hard to usher in a new lease of life to our economy and the country in spite of the odds.
Our First Lady, Amai Auxillia Mnangagwa (pictured above), has always pointed out that there is no limit to what women can achieve, and she has always encouraged women to take on more roles that inform national development. Through the Angel of Hope Foundation, the First Lady has helped build schools and provided scholarships for children. She launched the National Human Papilloma Virus Vaccination that helps prevent cancer with girls aged between 10-14 benefitting from this initiative. Her mobile clinic has helped those who want to get screened for cervical cancer, breast cancer and prostate cancer gain easy access.
It is heartening to see more of these women making a name and leaving a mark in the political and economic arena. Our Government has played its part in ensuring and promoting gender equality. A quota system was introduced which aims for a 50 percent female representation in Parliament.
Tatenda Mavetera, the ICT, Postal and Courier Services of Zimbabwe, is among those women who have represented women in the quota system. Women can do it.
Sandra Mutembo,
Ruwa.