The Sunday News
Mthabisi Tshuma, Sunday News Correspondent
MOVEMENT building has been identified as one of the key pillars in empowering communities, the Women’s Coalition of Zimbabwe (WCoZ) has said.
The idea of movement building emanates from when communities unite for a cause in facilitating projects that range from infrastructure development, equipping of health facilities and advocating for gender related issues among others.
Speaking during a hybrid cross-exchange event held at a local hotel in Gwanda recently, Director of Women in Politics Support Network (Wipsu) Mrs Sakhile Ngoma said there was need for women to unite for a good cause that will help in reviving the economy.
“Movement building is about different individuals coming together united by the same belief. In a movement there is freedom that comes with responsibility and rights are supposed to be enjoyed. We have also to be responsible for our actions. Who do we act for? Why do you act? Why do we act? When do we act? And where do we act? It is important to talk before acting so that it gives a lead to our actions,” said Mrs Ngoma.
Chairperson for Young Women Forum Mrs Zanele Nyathi said her organisation was testimony of movement building as they have managed to initiate programmes that develop societies.
“We have managed to give Gwanda inmates sanitary wear, clothes and also wrote a petition to the Municipality of Gwanda pertaining to water issues in Ward 6 and since then there has been a lot of progress. It is no longer much of a problem and those who had their water disconnected have managed to get them reconnected on the basis of making a payment plan with the authorities,” she said.
However, Mrs Nyathi said they have at times encountered challenges which were mainly caused by Covid-19 and also data to interact with others through social media.
“Lack of funds has also hindered young women to join which has affected our growth especially in rural areas,” said Mrs Nyathi.
In attendance at the event were members of the WCoZ drawn from different areas across the country which include Gwanda, Bulawayo and Hwange.
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