The Sunday News
Sione Amidu, Business Reporter
MATABELELAND South hosted the province’s belated International Women’s Day commemorations in Gwanda last week with a business exhibition of small to medium businesses run by women.
The exhibition was held under the theme, “Gender mainstreaming and women empowerment in climate change and disaster risk management.”
In a speech read on her behalf by the Minister of State for Provincial Affairs and Devolution in Matabeleland South Cde Abednico Ncube, the Minister of Small and Medium Enterprises and Co-operative Development, Cde Sithembiso Nyoni said the event sought to celebrate the economic, political and social achievements of women, their struggles, courage and significant determination to the country’s development and well-being.
“The day is important in acknowledging the voices of women and taking note of their diversity, their different roles and circumstances. It is the day that gives women a platform to share their common concerns so that they work together towards a common goal. In line with this year’s theme, the commemorations are focusing on how to achieve sustainable gender equality in the context of climate change, its impact on women and ways to mitigate this.
Women’s vulnerability to climate change is due to a number of factors such as social, economic and cultural,” she said.
She added that gender equality was crucial for the sustainable development of any country and there was need for gender consideration in climate change because women have limited access and control of resources.
“As a country we have made some strides in achieving gender equality. Zimbabwe has a robust legal and institutional framework which promotes gender equality and women empowerment. The constitution is progressive in terms of advancing women’s rights, as it contains an expansive bill of rights, gender equality notions and specific and elaborate rights for women.
The difference between men and women’s interaction with the environment and natural resources implies that their vulnerability differs. It is therefore, imperative to make gender consideration in climate, disaster risk reduction and environment conservation strategies,” said Minister Nyoni.
One of the exhibitors, Ms Sikhulile Sihwa paid gratitude to the Government for coming up with empowerment programmes for women.
“I’m here today to showcase my hard work of detergents manufacturing, all thanks to the Government for giving us women the rights we have today.
During the times of the liberation struggle women were not allowed to work or have anything to do with leadership, however, it is now in the past. We are very proud, the Women’s Micro Finance Bank is also supporting us as we are getting loans to start businesses,” she said.
