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Chivi- Women of Chivi District in Masvingo Province came out in full force and totally cast-off the intended dissolution of the Zimbabwe Gender Commission during a Constitutional Amendment Bill Number 3(CAB3) public hearing held at Maringire Primary School on April 1.
The women argued that dissolving the commission would be retrogressive and will affect women who had found relief in institutions that fight for and protect their rights from violations.
Vimbai Mapare of ward 5 in Chivi Central said they were against the idea as the Commission has been very useful to them in advocating for equal opportunities.
“We do not want the Gender Commission to be dissolved because it has been helping us to fight injustices against women and promoting equality and representation. As we speak here, we have so many women councilors who represent us and thanks to the Gender Commission that has been helping us to participate in national processes. If it is taken away it means we will have few women representatives in councils and parliament,” Mapare said.
Another lady, said without the Gender Commission, gender based violence against women and girls will increase at a time the institution was assisting to fight the scourge.
Gladys Ncube from Chivi north said the Gender Commission should stay.
“As a women rights defender in the rural areas, I oppose the provision as this will be a costly mistake as cases of abuse and gender based violence against women and girls will rise. We need the Commission because we have somewhere to report to when our rights are violated,” she said.
Another lady Susan Mazano from the district said it was disheartening to note that there are efforts to dissolve the commission at a time regional bodies like SADC had commended the institution for its sterling work in the fight for equality and protection of vulnerable women and girls in the country.
“Gender commission must not go, we need it, how can they say it’s no longer necessary when it’s doing its work perfectly and serving us well in the country? Even SADC has also commended it, we need the Commission and we don’t support that clause at all, it must stay,” she said.
Only a few men, supported the clause saying the Zimbabwe Human Rights Commission can still carry on with the work that is being done by the Zimbabwe Gender Commission.
“We support the idea that the mandate of Gender Commission be transferred to the Human Rights Commission because they both deal with human right issues and to us its duplication of duties and its costly to the country so we support the proposal,” said a man who did not identify himself but received ridicule from the crowd, particularly from women.
