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Importance of promoting gender equality
Bulawayo Progressive Residents Association (BPRA)
March 12, 2010

International Women's Day Special

Celebrating International Women's Day 2010-04-07 Equal Rights, equal opportunities, Progress for all
Women's day should be a wonderful opportunity to create awareness about ender issues and diversity. This is a day when the world pays more attention to women whose significant role in society, either as fellow workers, breadwinners, daughters, sisters, mothers, freedom fighters and so forth, cannot be over emphasized. Bulawayo Progressive Residents Association (BPRA) feels that it is important to contribute to the growing awareness of gender inequalities and work towards eliminating them for a freer and just world. Despite the numerous challenges facing women we have to celebrate women's triumphs and the achievements that they have made thus far.

The country's economic, health, education and human rights crises have an adverse impact on women and gender equality. the economic crisis affects women in that traditionally they play the role of running the home and managing the family in most cultures. The economic crisis makes it difficult for women to cope with all other challenges. Bulawayo residents should realise that they have to play the vital role of supporting women. For instance, organisations could start by internalising gender issues and providing their staff and members with the tools to create more knowledge, understanding and skills. Trough dissemination and knowledge sharing, residents can support female activists in our communities. From increased knowledge and understanding, actions will emerge that will express solidarity and amplify the voices of the marginalized sections of society.

Importance of Promoting Gender Equality

Equality among women, men, boys and girls in important aspects of their lives such as access to resources and opportunities, decision making and participation is fundamental to the quality of human life. There is no dignity when a segment of society is either discriminated against or excluded. Discrimination on the basis of one's sex is a human rights issue and a hindrance to poverty reduction and the realisation of the Millennium Development Goals. Promoting equality and empowering marginalized groups such as women in development and other life endeavours cannot be overemphasized. In advocating for human rights we cannot ignore the rights of women and other marginalized groups who are part of our communities.

Challenges facing women

BPRA is concerned about the crises affecting women today and realises that Bulawayo residents can come together with the sole aim of overcoming these crises. We wonder why Zimbabwean women who are passionate about their country do not write more often; why they do not participate more in politics and public life. It is not because they have gotten what they have been clamouring for nor is it because they have tired but it is because women feel humiliated and terribly let down by their fellow country men only because they are women who dare speak out their minds. Women receive harsh and spiteful criticism when they publicly express themselves. More often than not criticism in respect of a woman is not so much about their ideas but more about their gender and much that is attached to womanhood. The ammunition of choice id targeted not simply at her ideas but it often rounds on her personality, on how many children she has outside marriage or on her single-mother status. There are many women in Zimbabwe who have taken roles in public life. They are writers, activists, politicians, business executives and wives of politicians. They are brave women and when you think of the hate language they have to face each day sometimes for the offences of their male counterparts, you cans see why theirs is a hard and rugged road and why, eventually, some choose self-censorship or at worst to steer clear of public life. They face ridicule not for their ideas but about their private lives. They have to live with criticism of their looks as opposed to their views.

When Jenni Williams stands up with the brave WOZA members, questions are raised about her private life, not the work she is doing. There are many more women playing roles in public life - the likes of Bev Clark, Amanda Atwood, Janah Ncube, Nokuthula Moyo, Catherine Makoni, Tsitsi Matekaire, Thoko Matshe to name a few yet many, if not all have to face similar challenges that have very little to do with their ideas. Rarely are women appreciated for their search for democracy, however they often have to face questions about their private life. [cf Magaisa.]

The democratisation process is not simply a movement in high-level politics. It is also about attitudes and values that provide a conducive environment to nurture a more decent, equal and tolerant society. It is most vital that society develops an attitude of healthy and decent criticism. It should not be coloured by gender-prejudices or be of such a personal character that most well-meaning become marginalized. Taking into account such factors I can understand why some of our female counterparts will often think twice before they decide to participate in public life.

Growing instability and social problems in Zimbabwe continue to have an especially detrimental impact on women, despite outward signs of economic and political modification. The slight changes that have been ushered in by the GPA have not brought much of a change in the lives of many women. Many women have not been compensated seeing as they lost sole breadwinners while some became crippled due to the pre and post 2008 election violence that hit the whole country. Many more women have been further disadvantaged as they fail to educate their children, as the current education system seems to accommodate only the elite. The nationwide load shedding leaves women wondering what the coming winter season has in store for them. Politicians and concerned ministers with electricity generators and solar panels do not see urgency in the need to address matter. Women are directly facing the challenges of trying to put food on the table for their children and also getting medication for them. The economic crisis directly affects the ordinary citizen as if it is a test to see how they can survive. Impressions of change due to a power-sharing government give outsiders an inaccurate sense of Zimbabwe citizens' deepening social and economic woes.

Most ordinary residents cannot access any money, as they do not have a reliable source of income. The children of these residents are not getting quality education and a good health system still remains out of their reach.

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