THIS year marks 41 years after the United Nations (UN) declared March 8 International Women’s Day (IWD), but more needs to be done to ensure women are recognised and empowered worldwide.
For example, in Saudi Arabia, women are forbidden to drive and to move around without a male relative.
In 1990, it is said about 47 Saudi women protested by driving cars through the streets of Riyadh.
After this episode, all the women and their husbands were barred from foreign travel for a year.
Women in government are said to have been denounced as ‘immoral’ and subsequently fired.
Ironically, Western countries and the US (‘human rights advocates’) as front-runners in celebrating IWD, turn a blind eye to such abuse against women in Saudi Arabia because they want to milk oil.
In Zimbabwe, great strides have been made to empower women in all sectors.
Besides women occupying influential positions in both Government and the private sector, they have also become the driving force behind small-to-medium enterprises, a vital cog to the structure that keeps the nation afloat.
Year 2015 will also go down in history as the year Air Zimbabwe took to the skies with its first all-women flight crew.
Captains Elizabeth Simbi Petros and Chipo Matimba safely flew from Harare to Victoria Falls.
It was a milestone achievement; two black female pilots in-charge.
It is important to note, however, that despite the various initiatives to empower and recognise the invaluable role of women in society, the majority of women in the country, particularly in rural areas are still to know what IWD is all about.
The country joined the world in celebrating IWD this week through various activities including conferences, workshops and seminars.
The social media, radio and television programmes were awash with messages celebrating IWD.
Paying attention to the various programmes, one would be forgiven for wondering which type of woman was being celebrated.
For instance, where was that voice of women in the rural areas?
Could it be that IWD advocates limited themselves to women in urban areas who are regarded as the ‘empowered’?
Addressing delegates in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, in commemoration of IWD recently, African Union (AU) Commission chairperson Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma said IWD is a day on which the economic, political and social achievements of women should be celebrated.
Women’s rights, she said, are key to unlocking Africa’s future.
“There is indeed a great deal to celebrate today, in terms of the progress we have made in pushing for the gender agenda in Africa,” said Dlamini-Zuma.
“Great strides have been made to redress the gender imbalances, however, a lot more still needs to be done by both African women and men of goodwill to dismantle the gender barriers and ensure that African women’s potential is realised.”
In Zimbabwe, there is need to engage and embrace the story of that woman who is far from accessing social media, television and radio; that woman who has never attended a workshop or seminar.
Speaking on behalf of First Lady Amai Dr Grace Mugabe at the launch of IWD celebrations in Rukweza, Rusape, the Minister of State for Bulawayo, Eunice Sandi Moyo said more than half of all women in Zimbabwe are victims of gender-based violence.
“Studies conducted have shown that only 13 percent of women who suffer from violence seek help from the police and a combined five percent of those seek help from a doctor or medical institution, social services or a lawyer,” said Moyo.
Sentiments raised by Moyo are a reflection of numerous women out there who are still suffering in silence.
Yes, seminars, discussions and workshops can be held, but there is need to encourage the voice of that woman in the rural areas.
The plight of less-privileged women needs to be addressed.
An 18-year-old married woman in Chitungwiza, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said celebrating IWD must be a culture that should be also instilled in men.
“I only hear about IWD on radio, but cannot participate in any way,” she said.
“Even my husband does not understand what is celebrated on IWD.
“He says gatherings initiated by the so-called empowered and educated women (some of them not even married) can lead to the collapse of one’s marriage.”
It is not only alarming, but sad to note that many women do not recognise and celebrate IWD.
Although measures and policies to empower women have been implemented, many are still far from being empowered.
Zimbabwe is comprised of diverse cultures and traditions and there is need for women in rural areas to also celebrate their story.
International Women’s Day is commemorated annually on March 8.
It is a day that celebrates the plight and achievements of women worldwide.
The international theme for this year is: ‘Planet 50-50 by Year 2030: Step It Up for Gender Equality’.
When it was first celebrated, women were demanding to be given different benefits including the right to vote and to hold public office.
This has resulted in different countries not only offering women the right to vote, but to hold parliamentary seats and be cabinet ministers.
In Africa, about 15 states are among the world countries classified for women’s participation in national parliaments with more than 30 percent of women being involved in their countries’ parliaments.
These include Rwanda, Seychelles, Senegal, South Africa, Namibia, Mozambique, Ethiopia, Angola, Burundi, Uganda, Algeria, Zimbabwe, Tunisia, Cameroon and Sudan.