Centre News Hub
Maungwa- Women in Gutu came out guns blazing against efforts by government to disband the gender commission in the constitutional amendment bill number 3 saying the move would put to waste achievements gained in the fight for gender equality and upliftment of women in the country over the past decades.
Speaking during a parliamentary public hearing on CAB3 at Maungwa Business Center in Gutu South on 31 March a few women who were accorded the opportunity to speak said the disbandment would be a massive set back to their efforts and work done over the years in the country.
Gertrude Dhobha of Gutu Central said she was against the disbandment of the commission and handing over the Human rights commission its mandate.
“I want to express my view that I am opposed to the provision that seeks to disband the gender commission because this will be a grave mistake and step back in the fight for gender equality and upliftment of women and girls in the country. The country over the past decades has been doing well in plugging gender inequalities and all that work will be lost due to this amendment hence I am saying no to it,” said Dhobha.
Another woman said the gains achieved in the gender equality fight since the early 1980s cannot be blown away simply because of the amendment.
Yeudzirai Shenjere of Chiwara village voiced her concern over the provision to disband the commission saying it would result in more inequalities for women and girls that face so many inequality challenges in socio-economic and political circles.
“Through this commission our issues and efforts to fight inequalities were taking shape and we do not want that to be reversed, we do not want the commission to go, we want it to stay and fight for equality, giving the human rights commission its mandate will not do justice to the fight for gender equality because it is already overwhelmed by cross sectional human rights issues,” she said.
However some women expressed disquiet after they failed to express their views because of the selective approach that was used by some members of parliament who were directing those who controlled the microphones.
Tendai Mago of Ward 39 said she was denied the chance to speak but she managed to hand over a written submission in which she rejected the disbandment of the commission.
“I could not get the chance to air out my views because I was constantly ignored when I raised my hand but I managed to hand over a written submission and I totally rejected the idea of removing the gender commission, I questioned why now when we were doing good in addressing gender inequalities through that institution, it shows that we still have some people in government who are against the prosperity,” she said.
