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Last week at a glance - Issue 58
Women's
Coalition
March 14, 2011
My Thoughts
WCoZ invited women and
girls from all walks of life to commemorate International Women's
Day (IWD). This year marks a hundred years since the first IWD was
commemorated. WCoZ and its membership celebrated the day in style
and had the opportunity to raise awareness about current issues
affecting women on Power FM and on News Hour on the day. Women are
urged to maintain the momentum for other important days on the calendar
such as the Breast Cancer Day, Breastfeeding Week, International
Rural Women's Day, Mothers' Day and 16 Days Against Gender Based
Violence.
I would like to urge
us to remain resolute in our demand that women be included at 50%
in constitution making and that the resultant constitution reflects
our needs and demands as women of Zimbabwe.
IWD
8 March 2011 - a day to remember
WCoZ joined the rest
of the world in commemorating International Women's Day (IWD). Hundreds
of people, mainly women converged at the Julius Nyerere Hall at
the Harare Exhibition part to mark the 100th celebrations of IWD.
Speaking at the celebrations the Deputy Prime Minister Thokozani
urged the government of Zimbabwe to declare IWD a public holiday
in honour of women whom she described as nation builders.
The Chairperson of WCoZ
Emilia Muchawa noted that there is an urgent need for civic society
to raise awareness on the constitutional process with women so they
could participate fully. Speaking at the same function the Regional
Integration and International Integration and Cooperation Minister,
Misihairambwi-Mushonga urged women to for development and be more
assertive. Representing the young women in tertiary institutions
Kundai Chambara added that its time women are given equal opportunities.
The Deputy Minister of
Women's Affairs, Gender Community and Development was the guest
of honour graced the occasion and said without education women may
not be able to exercise other human rights such as political participation
National IWD Commemorations
Thousands of people gathered at the Chinhoyi University of Technology
on Friday 11 March 2011 to commemorate the IWD commemorations. TheMinistry
of Women Affairs, Gender and Community Development organised this
event.
Speaking at the commemorations
the guest speaker Vice President Joice Mujuru said women were a
gold mine of life transforming knowledge. She also urged women to
take advantage of the opportunities in education and enterpreneurship
in order to improve themselves.
The Minister of Women
Affairs, Gender and Community Development Dr Olivia Muchena, praised
the Vice President for being a woman courage at young age who gave
up her education to join the liberation struggle and is now studying
for a doctatrate with many responsibilities.
Other speakers at the
occasion included the United Nations Development Programme resident
coordinator Alain Noudehou who urged the government to close the
gap the exists between men and women at all levels of education.
Members'
Profile
Zimbabwe
Parents of Handicapped Children Association (ZPCA) is a registered
organization of parents of children with disabilities formed in
1987 and registered in 1990 as a welfare organization. The Harare
Province is the largest with a growing base of 23 support groups.
ZPCHA is actively involved in the advocacy and lobbying for the
rights of children with disabilities especially in the areas of
health, education, food, shelter, housing and recognition in the
society. ZPCHA is a well established organization with a network
of grassroots women, who are mothers of children with disabilities
across the Harare Province. They live in informal settlements, backyard
shacks and as lodgers in high density areas.
Visit the Women's
Coalition fact
sheet
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