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Gender Editor
Members of the Gender Commission do not have offices and are operating from home amid revelations that the commission is still to get a budget allocation. Speaking on the sidelines of a pre-budget consultative meeting held in Harare last week, Gender Commission chairperson Mrs Margaret Sangarwe-Mukahanana said they were waiting to get a budget allocation from their parent ministry to start operations.

The commission falls under the Ministry of Women’s Affairs, Gender and Community Development. “At the moment, we are still carrying out a situational analysis in order to identify gaps while we are waiting for a budget allocation to enable us to resume our work. We are currently working from our homes while we wait to get offices,” she said.

The nine-member Gender Commission was appointed in June in terms of Section 245 of the Constitution and was sworn into office by President Mugabe last month. Functions of the Gender Commission include receiving and considering complaints from the public and taking action the commission considers appropriate. It can also secure appropriate redress where gender rights have been violated.

Mrs Sangarwe-Mukahanana said despite the delay in budget allocation, the commission was upbeat about its pending assignments. Mrs Sangarwe-Mukahanana said it was critical to avail information to rural women to ensure that they interpret the law. Other members of the Gender Commission are Messrs Peter Mawonera (Chief Chikwizo), Obert Matshalaga, Victor Nkiwana, Dr Paul Kadzima, Dr Nyepudzai Nyangulu, Ms Sibongile Mauye, Ms Tsungirai Hungwe and Ms Naomi Chimbetete.