The Sunday News
Bhekumuzi Ncube, Correspondent
WHEN colonial rule officially ended in 1980, the first people-supported government quickly endeavoured to construct, develop and promote an unprejudiced society that furthered the goal of gender diversity and the involvement of young people in sociopolitical domains.
Forty one years later, progressive strategies, plans and policies have been gazetted by the Government to demonstrate its indisputable commitment in ensuring that young people and women, fairly enjoy the palatable fruits of independence.
In the New Dispensation led by President Mnangagwa, Vision 2030 serves as evidence of the Government’s desire to dismantle gender based injustices and increase youth inclusion in national governance. The Government development policy highlights the need for youth development and gender equality in critical decision making platforms.
As Zimbabwe is a constitutional democratic country, it is imperative to also highlight that Vision 2030 is in sync with the Constitution of Zimbabwe, under Section 17, 120 and 124 that mandates full gender balance in sociopolitical spheres, a women’s quota in the National Assembly and a proportional representation in the Senate.
Other policies that must be celebrated for safeguarding women and youth freedom includes the National Gender policy 2013-2017, the domestic Violence Act (2006) and the National Youth Policy (2020-2025).
These existing policies and strategies reveal the Government’s determination to protect and develop the future of young people and the health of women. On the ground, young people must celebrate the critical role played by the Government in constantly engaging youths and listening to their grievances, for instance, early this year, in a Portfolio Committee on Youth, Sports, Arts and Recreation meeting, Government officials engaged the Community Youth Development Trust (CYDT) organisation from Matabeleland South, seeking clarity on the petition it sent to the government demanding a 30 percent youth representation in parliament.
Such actions from the Government show that the New Dispensation is standing by its mantra, that is, to fully recognise young people’s voices for positive change and development.
While all the established policies and strategies have played, and still play a crucial role in safeguarding young people and women’s freedom, the Covid-19 prevailing conditions have exposed some existing stumbling blocks of women and youths freedom in an independent Zimbabwe.
During the strict Covid-19 national lockdowns, cases of women abuse increased as the conditions made it difficult for women to flee their abusers. Child marriages also increased due to patriarchal fathers who still follow repressive traditional practices to force their underage girls into planned marriages. In a period between January and February, Women Affairs Minister Sithembiso Nyoni told parliament that nearly 5 000 teenage pregnancy cases were recorded across the country, while at least 1 000 cases of child marriages were also recorded.
In backing up the statistics revealed by Hon Nyoni, CYDT observed that cultural and traditional practices were still being used to oppress the girl child during its Sexual Reproductive Health Rights activities in Gwanda, Umzingwane and Matobo Districts in a project that is funded by Humanist Institute for Development Cooperation (HIVOS).
These teenage marriage cases violated young girls’ Sexual Reproductive Health Rights that are stipulated in the Constitution of Zimbabwe 2013 under Section 76 which states that every citizen of Zimbabwe is entitled to Sexual Reproductive Health care services.
In addition, child marriages also violate Section 81(2) of the Zimbabwe 2013 Constitution Amendment Number 20 Act which stipulates that a child’s best interests are paramount in every matter concerning the child and Section 81(e) protects every child from economic and sexual exploitation and any form of abuse as well as the 2016 Constitutional Court of Zimbabwe judgment that child marriages were unconstitutional, in other words a violation of children`s rights.
While the government of Zimbabwe has made impressive strides in its bid to address issues of youth development and gender diversity which must be celebrated on Independence Day, more work is still required to comprehensively attain gender diversity and youth development as enshrined in the constitution. -@wakoNcube
