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Cde Mnangagwa

Lloyd Gumbo recently in KIGALI, Rwanda
The Pan African Parliament (PAP) wants all African countries to expedite ratification of the Maputo Protocol that guarantees comprehensive rights to women in facets of life including political and economic spheres.

The protocol, also known as the Protocol to the African Charter on Human and People’s Rights of Women in Africa seeks to provide room for African women to make independent decisions in their reproductive health, an end to genital mutilation, access to health and education and access to opportunities and resources available in their respective countries.

Representatives of the Pan African Parliament including Zanu-PF MP for Chirumanzu-Zibagwe, Cde Auxilia Mnangagwa were in Kigali during the 27th Ordinary Session of the Assembly of Heads of State and Government of the African Union that started on Sunday and ended on Monday this week. President Mugabe was one of the African leaders who attended the summit.

In an interview with the media after the summit, Cde Mnangagwa, who is the chairperson of Southern Regional Caucus, said it was high time all countries of the African Union ratified and deposited the protocol.

“We met so many leaders and we got to know what they were doing about this ratification. Some of the countries have already ratified. The message we carried to the Heads of State is that we were encouraging them to sign, ratify and deposit the Maputo Protocol,” said Cde Mnangagwa.

The Maputo Protocol is mainly for protecting women against all forms of violence, genital mutilation, reproductive system and all forms of activities that affect women. It also seeks to promote their access to education and health.”