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Ruth Butaumocho Gender Forum
THE year was characterised by a series of events and issues that are expected to guide the gender discourse next year. As the year comes to an end, the events, which happened at various levels and informed by different economic, political and social fundamentals presented the nation with an opportunity to discuss gender from different perspectives, and offer guidelines on how the gender discourse can be taken to another level.

Longest sentence for a rapist
The year started on a good note when serial rapist Thomas Brighton Chirembwe was in January, sentenced to 290 years in jail by magistrate Simon Rojers Kachambwa for raping 13 women and unlawful entry into their homes, the nation was left shocked and relieved at the same time.

It became on record, the longest sentence ever imposed in Zimbabwe on a crime of such nature. While the nation appeared shocked at the magistrate’s sentence, gender activists and women’s rights organisation celebrated.

It was victory for women’s lib that had for long lobbied for such sentencing, as a way of reducing sexually related crimes.

They said it was not just a sentence, but a reflection of the judiciary’s commitment to end sexual violence against women, men and children across.

Sympathy pours in for Mrs Hungwe
The nation was shocked with the death of Ms Gladys Mangwiro, a Bindura businesswoman who died after reportedly being intimate with High Court judge Charles Hungwe at the beginning of this year. Despite the tragedy surrounding the event, Mrs Hungwe emerged the heroine for her decision to stand by her husband, and even attend the burial with him.

All kudos went out to Mrs Hungwe for standing by her man during his most trying time. Both men and women said her decision was a sign of bravery and submission as expected of woman of valour, honour and integrity.

Beijing +Consultative Processes begins
Sometime in July, Zimbabwe officially launched the Beijing+ Consultative 20 Processes, joining several countries across the globe that has since embarked on the next level of women empowerment.

Beijing+20 — from the Beijing Conference, the Platform for Action — is an agenda for women empowering, offering a defining policy framework and roadmap for achieving gender equality and women’s rights. It has stimulated unprecedented political energy and social mobilisation around the world, with civic society and governments using it to end inequality and discrimination of women.

Launch of the Makanaka Trust
Former child television presenter for the then Kidznet, Makanaka Wakatama formed a trust aimed at assisting the girl child to get information on the dangers of early child marriages. However, her decision to form a trust was met with anger, mistrust and scepticism with some sections of the media accusing her of being an opportunist who does not deserve any public sympathy.

Upsurge of gender based violence
During the course of the year, there was an increase of gender based cases despite Government’s accelerated effort in trying to curb the menace. The problem has become so widespread that President Mugabe had to call for a nationwide campaign against abuse of women and children, saying stiffer sentences alone were not enough to curb such heinous acts.

Election of Zimbabwe to the sadc gender chair
Zimbabwe made yet another landmark victory and is set to make a positive mark on gender issues in the Southern region following the country’s appointment to chair the gender regional agenda next year.

The country’s appointment to chair the regional agenda should not just be viewed as a rotational selection, but is a clear demonstration of its commitment towards gender equality, as attested by results on the ground.

Rapists to rot in jail

In yet another landmark development, the Government will soon introduce a mandatory 30-year sentence for rape, as Zimbabwe accelerates its efforts to reduce rape and sexual abuse in the country. Already, the proposal would soon be tabled before Cabinet for consideration. Once Cabinet adopts the proposal, raping children between zero to 12 years, and sodomising and raping, where the rapist knows that they are HIV positive will now attract life imprisonment sentence, while 30 years would be the minimum sentence for any case of rape.

Appointment of the First Lady to push the gender agenda

The year is ending on a high note premised on the promise made by the First Lady Amai Grace Mugabe to further push the gender agenda following her appointment to lead zanu-pf Women’s League, as its secretary.