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Last week at a glance: WCoZ members decide to participate fully in the constitutional process
Women's Coalition
May 18, 2009

WCoZ Members Decide to Participate fully in the Constitutional Process

WCoZ held a strategy and awareness raising meeting on the constitutional process for members on Friday, 15 May at a local hotel. The meeting was organized to make a concrete decision on women's participation in the constitutional process. This was necessary since divisions were beginning to appear in civic society's participation. Three presentations were made to raise awareness on the process and these were, "A gendered critique of the current constitution making process; Opportunities and Challenges" by Slyvia Chirau; "Shortcomings of the Lancaster House Constitution", by Catherine Makoni and the "Timeline of the Constitution Making Process" by Sithokozile Thabethe.

Members agreed that it was necessary for women to participate actively in the current constitutional reform process. They mapped out activities that women needed to carry out around Zimbabwe and with policy makers. A task force consisting of Zimbabwe Women Lawyers Association, Women in Law Southern Africa, Women in Politics Support Unit, The Women's Trust and Zimbabwe Union of Journalists was created to spearhead planning and activities of the constitutional process.

WCoZ was honoured to have Rumbidzai Nhundu-Kandawasvika in the meeting. Rumbidzai is a former Women's Action Group employee and was part of the 1999-2000 constitutional review process. She shared lesson learnt from the 1999/2000 Constitution Process and encouraged women to be pro-active to make meaningful impact. She encouraged a co-ordinated approach to raise the necessary resources needed for the constitutional reform exercise by women.

Women Rights Activist from Sierra Leone visits Zimbabwe

Dr Nematta Majeks-Walker, a consultant who is experienced in gender, leadership, advocacy and politics was in the country recently. The British Council arranged this important visit. Dr Nematta met up with WCoZ staff and exchanged strategies and ideas. She reported on her successful 50/50 campaign in Sierra Leone which seeks to get 50% representation of women in parliament and the consultant was updated on the work the Women's Coalition of Zimbabwe was currently working on and this included the Constitutional reform process.

Dr Majeks-Walkers specializes in Women's Rights, Strategic Planning, Capacity Building, Project Cycle Management since 1999 and has worked in Sierra Leone, the UK, USA, Pakistan, Kenya, Nigeria, Ghana, the Gambia and Liberia with women politicians, civil society activists, youths and members of the media. A farewell tea party was also organized by the British Council and women activists from diverse fields were invited to bid farewell to Dr Majeks -Walker who left early on Saturday morning.

Launch of Film on Violence against women in Johannesburg

The Research and Advocacy Unit (RAU) in collaboration with Women's Coalition of Zimbabwe launched a video entitled "Hear us - Women affected by Political Violence in Zimbabwe Speak Out" in Johannesburg, South Africa. Emilia Muchawa the chairperson of WCoZ represented us at the event and called for a transitional justice process that catered for women's needs and demands.

PACT -Zimbabwe Grants Management Workshop: 12 -13 May 2009

Finance Officers and Programme Officers responsible for Pact-Zimbabwe funded programme participated in a one and half days grants management workshop. The main objective of the workshop was to discuss grants management in relation to grant agreement, financial budgeting and reporting, compliance issues, programme management and monitoring and evaluation.

Twelve organizations including Women's Coalition of Zimbabwe participated at this workshop. Pact is an international organization based in Washington and is operating in 15 countries in Africa. Its overall goal is to create an empowered community by building capacities of non-governmental organizations. In Zimbabwe it has been operating since 1998 and operates in two thematic areas which are HIV and AIDS and Democracy and governance.

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