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Ruth Butaumocho African Agenda

The end of World War II in 1945 was a critical moment in the history of women’s participation in the political and economic life of millions across the globe.

With Africa and other continents like Asia, lagging behind in terms of women’s rights, the demand to access of rights for women was fronted mainly by the West with support coming from all over the world.

Agitation to have access to various rights and access to opportunities gave birth to the women’s movement.

Main key demands of this movement were equal pay, equal treatment, access to economic opportunities, maternity and reproductive rights.

Although at one time members of society in some African countries; Zimbabwe included- condemned the wave of female agitation, particularly in the 1990’s, following the 1995 Beijing Conference, an era what became to be known as “Vakadzi veBeijing”, many were to appreciate years later that gender equality in terms of equal political and economic rights was good for everyone.

Such global convention as the highly touted Fourth UN World Conference on Women held in Beijing, China, resulted in the introduction of a number of legislative changes aimed at improving women’s position and standing in society, politics and the economy.

To this day, Zimbabwe, several African countries and the rest of the world has largely benefited from the women’s movement attempts to push for gender equality in many spaces although there is still room to do more.

From fighting for women’s right to vote, we now talk of women who head boards, extending parental leave to serving Members of Parliament.

In African alone several women now hold powerful ministerial positions such as the Minister of Information, Finance and Defence, portfolios that for years were held by men.

There have been huge changes for women in terms of employment in the past decades, with women moving into paid employment outside the home in ways that their grandmothers and even their mothers could only dream of.

In the last 80 years, debate has shifted on what both men and women want amplified, but what has not changed is that gender continues to be a structure of power that underpins both society and the economy.

While the women’s movement came up as a result of individuals, cliques and groups of people who agitated for gender equality, several women’s organisation were birthed to sustain the movement’s agenda.

In Zimbabwe, names of organisations that have been pushing for legislations that promotes gender equality in various spaces are too numerous to mention.

Some have since collapsed, while others have since diverted in line with emerging global and nations developments.

Others have remained resolute to the cause and the need to push for women’s empowerment on different fronts.

One such organisation Women Action Group, simply known as WAG, has stayed true to the women’s movement, playing a pivotal role in steering the ship of women’s movement in Zimbabwe.

The organisation which celebrates its 40th anniversary this year, was formed in 1983 to develop products and tools for unlocking women and girls’ power to claim their rights in violence free and rights conscious communities.

Beyond rallying behind women, through supporting legislative processes that supports gender equality, Women Action Group has since expanded its mandate and now covers various thematic areas.

Some of the areas are gender based violence, leadership and governance as well as sexual reproductive health rights, where it has recorded notable achievements in implementing strategies and programmes that protect and promote the sexual and reproductive health rights and needs of women and girls.

Speaking at a press conference recently to kick start launch of a four-month celebratory season, which will culminate in the actual celebrations in October, Women’s Action Group WAG executive director Edinah Masiyiwa urged women to continue advocating for their rights to address the gaps in gender equality and reduce child marriages.

Giving a national outlook of issues concerning women and girl’s rights, she said her organisation was impressed by a litany of legislations put in place by the Government to ensure that the female populace’s aspirations were taken care of.

She added that the organisation continued to be motivated by daily struggles of women and girls, in areas where implementers were not walking the talk to fulfil legislation requirements.

This, it has been doing across the country by mentoring women, and instituting programmes where necessary.

“The organisation has been a haven for knowledge, grooming and mentorship for women and other women’s rights organisations in Zimbabwe. The journey has not been an easy one, but we continue to be motivated by the daily struggles of women and girls,’’ she said.

Ms Masiyiwa added that it was heartening to note that the organisation has remained on course to empower women, despite a few challenges that continue to wade in its way.

“We continue pushing to ensure that women’s spaces and rights are not violated as was the case before the organisation was started soon after independence.

“WAG was started off through questioning the inequality between men and women in Zimbabwe. Women were arrested for walking without the company of men after 6pm. Back in the days, the struggle was real, but I am glad that notable progress has been made since,” she said.

She said her organisation tackled various issues in stages in line with the emerging international trends in the country and the region.

“The second decade saw Women Action Group responding to the effects of HIV and Aids scourge which claimed the lives of many people. It was because of that period that we had to source a lot of funding since there were a lot of gaps in awareness, programming and offering support to women, who then were the most affected,” she said.

The HIV pandemic had a huge impact on women in Zimbabwe as they most of them were not empowered to negotiate for protection then. Others found themselves caring for the sick, since hospitals and other health institutions were overwhelmed.

The organisation had to step in and educate communities on HIV and AIDS through its health programmes that were implemented in most affected districts.

“Today, we can safely celebrate that HIV is no longer a huge threat and people with HIV are living normal lives if they are on treatment,’’ she said. “As we celebrate the first 40 years of WAG’s existence, we are aware that there is still more to be done for women and girls to fully enjoy their rights.

“WAG envisions a Zimbabwe with empowered women and girls claiming and enjoying their rights in a situation of transformed power relations between women and men.’’

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