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Systematic institutionalisation of selective empowerment and engagement of women in national development initiatives
Movement for Democratic Change
November 01, 2010

The MDC Assembly of women notes with concern how Olivia Nyembesi Muchena politicised the International Rural Women's Day Commemoration which she turned into a ZANU PF Rally under the banner of the Ministry of Women Affairs, Gender and Community Development. It was an insult to Zimbabwean women for the guest of honour to be John Nkomo when Zimbabwe is rich with powerful women who constitute more than 52% of the population and are in decision making positions in cabinet, parliament, civic society, corporate world and the diplomatic corps.

Amongst the guests was the Secretary of The MDC Women's Assembly, Hon. Evelyn Masaiti, who got the shock of her life when she got to the venue in Chirumanzu. The event was turned into a Zanu-PF rally with all the women dressed in Zanu PF regalia. It became clear that it was not a National event as the invitation had mischievously stated. It was shocking to see that the ministry had used aid meant for a national event to advance the political interests of Zanu-PF, instead of addressing issues, concerns and development priorities, which her party had ignored for the three decades.

While the MDC Women's Assembly had understood that such events would be held in a woman's constituency, it was amazing that the minister chose a constituency belonging to a man, Mr. E. Munangagwa, as the most appropriate constituency to hold such an event. Thirty one years after independence, women wonder why there is continuous violation of women's rights with impunity. The Minister of Women Affairs, Gender & Community Development should really know better than to campaign for Zanu-PF using funds earmarked for all the women of Zimbabwe.

It is disheartening that there is systematic discrimination of women by Olivia Nyembesi Muchena in national development initiatives, as she has done with Treasury Funds meant for all the women, which she has disbursed using the original structures that were used by the previous Zanu PF governments to marginalise and punish all women who were and are not members of Zanu PF. This time she has done it using donor funds meant for unifying Zimbabwean women under the auspices of the United Nations.

Zimbabwe will be joining the rest of the world in commemorating 16 days of activism against gender based violence, we hope that she will not abuse the funds meant for these national days as she has done of late. We do not want national and international funds to be abused in this manner again. As the Women's Assembly, we do not like to attack fellow women from any party, but when they start marginalising other women, we are left with no choice but to express our dismay publicly.

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