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Acting Prime Minister Hon Khupe calls for an end to domestic violence
Movement for Democratic Change (MDC)
March 20, 2009

The MDC Women's Assembly members today joined over 12 000 other women of Zimbabwe to commemorate the International Women's Day at the City Sports Stadium in Harare.

For the first time in Zimbabwe's history, women from all political parties, from the church, academia, armed forces and school children joined hands and converged at the stadium to celebrate women's rights.

The International Women's Day is commemorated worldwide every year on 8 March but was postponed in Zimbabwe due to other pressing commitments since the formation of an inclusive government.

The commemorations were also held at a time when the MDC and the nation at large is mourning the untimely death of Amai Susan Nyaradzo Tsvangirai, the wife of MDC President and Zimbabwe's Prime Minister the Right Hon. Morgan Tsvangirai who died in a fatal car accident early this month.

Key note addresses were presented by MDC Vice President and Acting Prime Minister, Hon. Thokozani Khupe and the Vice President Joyce Mujuru.

Hon. Khupe called for an end to domestic violence against women and the girl child.

She also urged women from different political affiliations to begin to co-exist.

"As women we should learn to tolerate each other for the development of the nation as the formation of an inclusive government is a new beginning for the country," Hon. Khupe said.

She said by showing unity and love as women, men and children were bound to follow, a move that would help in rebuilding the nation.

MDC Women's Assembly Chairperson and Minister of Public Works Hon. Theresa Makone said this years celebrations were the first celebrations since the formation of the MDC that women from all political parties have come together and shown an overwhelming atmosphere of peace and togetherness which if maintained will move Zimbabwe in a different direction.

Hon Makone said that according to the Global Political Agreement substantial positions in government should have been given to women but that had not been the case.

"A few women have been given the crumbs in government. As being caregivers by nature, women have been allocated insignificant ministries," Hon Makone said.

She also said that it was disappointing to note that there were a few women in senior positions in the army and the police and appealed to the Inclusive Government that there be more drastic changes so that more women could be seen in senior positions.

Hon Makone said that as MDC women they will make sure that any politician who promotes violence against women and the girl child is destined to lose his position.

"As women we are saying enough is enough, whoever will promote violence against women and the girl child is destined to lose that position," Hon Makone said .

The commemorations are going to be spread across all the 10 provinces in the country in an effort to spread the gospel of unity across the country.

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