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Women's Coalition statement on the delay in concluding the power-sharing agreement
Women's Coalition
Oct 23, 2008

We the Women's Coalition of Zimbabwe, on behalf of the women of Zimbabwe remain gravely concerned by the failure of the political principals to conclude the talks that will result in the resolution of the Zimbabwe's political, economic and humanitarian crisis.

Cognizant that the political parties (ZANU PF, and the two MDC formations) signed a political settlement for the establishment of an inclusive Government at the Rainbow Towers on the 15th of September 2008, we note with deep regret that to date no cabinet has been formed resulting in Zimbabwe operating without a Government since March 2008. This delay has been due to the disagreement by the political party principals on the allocation of Government Ministries.

We note that this political impasse has resulted in continued and accelerated suffering of the people of Zimbabwe especially women and children. This is characterized by some of the factors outlined below-:

• Famine which impacts heavily on women and children with people resorting to wild fruit (hacha) and rats for survival
• A collapsed Health sector characterized by shortage of drugs, shortage of health personnel, breakdown of equipment
• A crumbling economy characterized by cash shortages resulting in unending queues, hyper inflation which is the highest in the world, high taxation for workers, dollarization of the economy with the majority of the workforce still earning their salaries in local currency.
• An ailing education system characterized by continued job action by teachers due to poor remuneration, lack of supplies including stationary and food, delays/ uncertainty in the writing of exams.
• Breakdown of social services such as electricity and water shortages the latter resulting in a health crisis that is causing cholera deaths.
• Women and girls suffered grave violence during the election period and this violence has continued to prevail extending to family and community levels due to impunity.

The continued delay in the conclusion of the talks has only served to exacerbate the suffering of women and children in the country.

Now therefore as the Women of Zimbabwe we demand as follows:

1. That the political party principals put the interests and concerns of the people of Zimbabwe first.
2. That the Political Party Principals negotiate and conclude the talks in Good faith on Monday 27th October 2008.
3. That an Inclusive Government be in place shortly thereafter to begin tackling the urgent challenges that the country is facing in accordance with the Agreement.
4. That the Inclusive Government be constituted by a fair representation of women within the spirit of the Government of National Unity Deal, SADC Protocol on Gender and Development and other regional and international instruments.
5. Conclude the Talks, We are dying of hunger.

Shona version

Nyunyuto dzemadzimai pamusoro pekunonoka kupera kwehurukuro dzezvematongerwo enyika

Isu seboka rinomirira madzimai emuZimbabwe reWomen's Coalition of Zimbabwe, tinoshushikana zvikuru nekusapera kwehurukuro dziri pakati pemapato matatu ezvamatongerwo enyika anoti ZANU PF, MDC-T neMDC-M. Nhaurirano idzi ndidzo dzinotarisirwa kupedza matambudziko ezve matongengerwo enyika, hupfumi hwayo nemagariro evanhu.

Tichirangarirana kuti mapato aya akanyorerana pasi chibvumirano musi wa15 Gunyana 2008, tinoshushikana kuti kusvika pari nhasi hapana hurumende yati yagadzwa uyezve tave nenguva refu tisina hurumende zvichibvira muna Kurume wegore rino. Makakatanwa aya aita kuti kusave nemakurukota ehurumende.

Makakatanwa aya aita kuti kutambura uye kuomerwa kwevana ve Zimbabwe nehupenyu kuwedzere zvichinyinya kubata madzimai nevana zvakanyanya. Matambudziko atasangana nawo anosanganisira zvinotevera.

• Nzara yaita kuti madzimai nevana vararame nehacha nemakonzo.
• Bazi rezveUtano raparara. Hakuna mishonga kana vakoti uye zvekushandisa nemishina hazvichashandi.
• Hupfumi hwenyika hwaparara. Izvi zvinooneka nekushaika kwemari zvinoita kuti vanhu vaswere vari kumitsetse yemabhengi, Kukwira kwemitengo yezvinhu, kukwidzwa kwemitero kuvashandi, nekushandiswa kwemari yekunze asi ivo vashandi vachitambira mari yemuno.
• Dzidzo yaparara. Vadzidzisi vanonyunyuta nekusaenda kumabasa nekuda kwemari shoma yavanopihwa, kushaikwa kwemabhuku uye chikafu muzvikoro uye kunonoka kunyorwa kwebvunzo.
• Kushaikwa kwemagetsi nemvura zvave kukonzera zvirwere zvakaita secholera.
• Vakadzi nevasikana vari kuramba vachingoshungurudzwa kubva nguva yesarudzo. Pari zvino mhirizhonga iyi yave yapararira munharaunda nemumhuri nekuti vapari vemhosva havasi kusungwa.

Kusapera kwehurukuro idzi kwave kuita kuti madzimai nevana munyika varambe vachitambudzika.

Naizvozvo semadzimai eZimbabwe tinoda zvinotevera kuti zviitwe nekukasika-;

1. Vatungamiri vemapato ezvematongerwo enyika vakoshese zvido zvevana veZimbabwe kunyanya madzimai nevana.
2. Mapato aya anofanira kupedza hurukuruko idzi mune zvakanaka nemusi weMuvhuro 27 Gumiguru 2008.
3. Tinoda kuona hurumende yemubatanidzwa ichigadzwa zvichienderana nechibvumirano chakaitwa munguva pfupi yapfuura.
4. Hurumende yemubatanidza inge iyine hutungamiriri hwemadzimai zvichienderana nechibvumirano cheInclusive Government, cheSADC Protocol on Gender and Development nemamwewo mabumbiro anokurudzira kuenzwniswa kwemikana yevarume nevadzimai.
5. Pedzayi Hurukuro, Tafa nenzara

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