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INTRODUCTION

THE Government of Zimbabwe has for years created and nurtured an enabling environment for the empowerment of women and communities, growth of small and medium enterprises and cooperatives, through legal and policy frameworks and establishment of key institutional mechanisms as well as availing resources to ensure their success.

The Government of Zimbabwe upon attaining independence in 1980 formulated an economic development strategy of “Growth with Equity”.

This framework was inclusive and saw the birth of the Ministry of Community Development and Women Affairs in 1981.

This ministry has been evolving since then under various departments and ministries until in 2005 a fully-fledged Ministry of Women Affairs, Gender and Community Development was established. 

VISION

Socially and economically empowered women and resilient communities enjoying gender equality in an SME driven economy by 2030.

MISSION

To implement policies/programmes for women`s empowerment, gender equality, resilient communities, cooperatives and MSMEs development and to coordinate stakeholders in the sectors.

VALUES

a) People-driven: Servant leadership, responsive diligence and determination towards completion of a desired outcome.

b) Responsiveness: The Quality Of Reacting Quickly And Positively 

c) Accountability: willingness to accept responsibility. 

d) Teamwork: the cooperative effort of a team of people for a common goal or purpose.

e) Integrity: the quality of being honest and having strong moral principles

f) Gender Sensitivity & Inclusivity: leaving no one behind. The values can be aptly summarised by the acronym PRATIG

TERMS OF REFERENCE

1. Constitution of Zimbabwe Amendment No. 20 ; Sections 2,3,6,13,14, 17, 22, 25, 26, 31,40,46,52, 56, 71, 78, 80, 120 and 124 

2. Cooperative Societies Act (Chapter 24:05)

3. Small and Medium Enterprises Act (Chapter 24:12)

4. Domestic Violence Act (Chapter 5:16)

5. Cabinet Directives

OVERALL FUNCTIONS

Formulate, recommend, implement, coordinate and evaluate policies, strategies and programmes that promote women empowerment, gender equality, community, cooperative, and MSMEs development.

Develop and promote value chains for goods and services produced by women, communities, cooperatives, and MSMEs. 

Provide, coordinate and facilitate technical and entrepreneurship skills and management training that support the empowerment of women, communities, cooperatives, and MSMEs.

Promote equal and equitable access, control and ownership of resources in order to address gender inequalities. 

Ensure prevention and response mechanisms to reduce all forms of gender based violence.

Develop and maintain through research, databases and publications on women empowerment, gender, communities, cooperatives and MSMEs. 

Coordinate research work and publications on gender and provide gender sensitive information and sex disaggregated data for use in planning and project implementation at all levels and in all sectors.

Provide support for technology access and development for women, community, cooperatives and MSMEs. 

Administer development funds for women, communities, cooperatives and MSMEs.

Administer all Acts assigned to the Ministry.

THE JOURNEY: SINCE INDEPENDENCE DEPARTMENTS IN THE MINISTRY AND THEIR ACHIEVEMENTS

1.0 WOMEN EMPOWERMENT AND GENDER EQUALITY

Since 1981 to date the Ministry responsible for Women Affairs and Gender has been playing a guiding and coordinating role in the advancement of women empowerment and gender equality besides undertaking its specific programmes and projects. 

1980 to 1990 Growth with Equity Economic development Policy.

The “Growth with Equity” framework gave the women and men, since independence, the impetus to be involved in national development with development structures being set up at community levels. During the period 1980 to 1990 women both in rural areas and urban areas got involved in the formation of Women’s Clubs which became a vehicle where they were educated on household and community health, hygiene issues, food security at household level, economic empowerment projects and awareness raisings on maternal health and reproductive rights. 

Ratification of key Regional and International Instruments on gender, gender sensitive legislation and policies. 

The Government of Zimbabwe has unwavering commitment on promoting Gender Equality and Women Empowerment. Today, Zimbabwe is party to key International and regional instruments on gender equality and women empowerment which include the following:

The Convention on the Elimination of all forms of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW) ratified in 1991, Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action which Zimbabwe ratified in 2000.

The Protocol to the African Charter on Human and People’s Rights on the Rights of Women in Africa which Zimbabwe ratified in 2008

The AU Solemn Declaration on Gender Equality 

The SADC Protocol on Gender and Development which Zimbabwe ratified in 2009.

Adoption of a gender responsive Constitution and legislation. 

Section 3(1) (g) recognizes gender equality as one of the founding values and principles of the Constitution.

Section 17 provides for gender equality in all spheres of life. It promotes full gender balance and participation of women in all spheres of society on the basis of equality with men. 

Section 56 provides for “Equality and Non-Discrimination” and further identifies gender, sex, marital status and pregnancy as grounds for non-discrimination.

Section 80 which is part of the Bill of rights is specifically dedicated to the rights of women. It outlaws all customs, traditions and cultural practices that infringe on the rights of women conferred by the Constitution.

Section 78 outlaws child and forced marriages.

Adoption of gender responsive laws

Legal Age of Majority Act (LAMA), (1982), it conferred majority status on women. 

Equal Pay Regulations (1980) provided for equal pay for work of equal value.

Labour Relations Act (1984) which prohibited employers from discriminating against any prospective employee in relation to employment.

Public Service Pensions (Amendment) Regulations (1985) made provisions for female workers in the public service to contribute to their pension at the same rate as male contributors.

Matrimonial Causes Act (1987) provided for equitable distribution of matrimonial assets on divorce.

Maintenance Amendment Act (1989) requires a negligent non custodian parent to contribute regularly to the maintenance of minor children in the custody of the other parent.

The Electoral Act (1990) gives women the right to vote and participate in general and by elections for the Presidency or in Parliamentary and local elections as voters or candidates without any discrimination.

The Administration of Estates Amendment Act (1997) protects the inheritance rights of surviving spouses and children.

The Sexual Offences Act (2001) protects women from sexual abuse and prohibits trafficking of persons for purposes of prostitution and imposes stiffer penalties for violations. 

Domestic Violence Act, which provides for relief to victims of domestic violence. 

Adoption of gender responsive policies, strategies and frameworks

a) National Gender Policy

Adoption of the Revised National Gender Policy in 2017, which provides a guiding framework for mainstreaming gender in all sectors of the economy. The policy provides for concrete measures and strategies to mainstream gender in the following 10 thematic areas,

Constitutional and legal rights,

Economic empowerment,

Politics and decision making, 

Health,

Education and training, 

Gender based violence, 

Environment and climate change,

Media information communication and technology,

Disability, Culture and religion.

b) National Programme on GBV Prevention and Response (2016-2020) 

The Ministry unveiled the National Programme on Gender Based Violence Prevention and Response in 2016 to provide a framework for coordinating the National response to Gender Based Violence. Through the implementation of the National Programme, the 4Ps Campaign on Zero Tolerance to GBV. 

The Ministry has also established four One Stop Centres for Survivors of Gender Based Violence in Makoni, Gweru, Gwanda and Chinhoyi where GBV Services are provided under one roof. The services provided include health services, legal services, psycho-social support and police services. 

c) Gender Mainstreaming 

The Ministry`s determination to Gender Mainstreaming in all sectors of the economy has resulted in a milestone in the following areas:

The Ministry has established Gender Focal Persons in all the line ministries.

A draft Monitoring and Evaluation Framework on Gender Equality and Women empowerment is now in place.

Gender budgeting has been taken aboard by the Ministry of Finance and it’s now a requirement for each Ministry to prepare gender sensitive budgets.

Gender clubs were established to empower girls and boys in Schools. 

d) Girls and Young Women Empowerment Framework 

The framework was adopted in 2014 with the aim of making a deliberate effort to target girls and Young Women in programming. The Framework sets out strategies for protecting and empowering girls and young women in Zimbabwe as is anchored on five strategic areas of intervention namely: Education, Economic empowerment, Reproductive health rights, Safety and protection, Leadership development.   

Child Marriages: The Ministry launched the Strategy to end Child marriages in Zimbabwe in 2018 and structures to implement this have been established in the provinces and the districts.

e) Broad Based Women’s Economic Empowerment Framework

The Ministry developed a Broad Based Women Economic Empowerment Framework which was adopted in 2010. It seeks to eliminate gender discrimination and ensure a comprehensive approach to women economic empowerment. The framework also seeks to increase the level of women’s participation in the mainstream economy in key economic sectors namely; Agriculture, Mining, Tourism and Manufacturing.

Financial Inclusion.

The National Financial Inclusion Strategy of 2016-2020 developed by the Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe, resulted in 15 Million Women Empowerment Fund being allocated to women to support broad-based economic growth.

Women Development Fund 

The Fund was established in 2010 as a means of addressing the lack of collateral amongst women and the high interest rates being charged by Commercial Banks. To date 2 276 women’s groups have benefited and a total of $4 281 107 has been disbursed.

Women’s Micro-Finance Bank   

A Women’s Micro-finance Bank was established with the following objectives;

To improve access to affordable capital and operational finance by women.

To facilitate financial inclusion by decentralising the banking system so that it becomes accessible to the majority of women who reside in the rural or remote areas.

Women in Agriculture.

The Ministry has mobilised women to apply for commercial farms in their names and to form a Women in Agriculture Association. Today the Ministry boast for a successful drive to mainstream women in the agriculture value chain working with Ministry of Agriculture.

ICT and Women.

The Ministry has established an on online platform for women in business to improve access to information on various business disciplines and be able to trade from an informed point of view.

Women in Mining

The Ministry has helped women to venture in mining sector which has always been dominated by men, through availing start-up working capital and equipment to those who were taking up small-scale mining.

Today the Ministry boast over a successful drive to mainstream women in the mining and mining value chain working with Ministry of Mines and Mining Development.

Women in Health

The Ministry in conjunction with Ministry of Health and Child Care has successful advocated for the improvement of health for women and children fighting cancer in its various forms, STIs and HIV/AIDS, improve ART adherence, PMTCT. 

Women in Politics and Decision Making 

Zimbabwe is currently implementing temporary special measures with regard to increasing representation of women in both houses of Parliament (Sections 120 (2) and 124 (1) (b) of the Constitution in line with the SADC aspirations to reach 50/50 representation of men and women in decision making positions. 

There have been appointments of women to key positions such as Commissioners, Permanent Secretaries, and Directors. 

For the first time in history in the 2018 harmonized elections, four female candidates ran for the Presidency. Through and through the #She Vote Campaign young women demanded 25% of the reserved seats to be allocated for young women. 

Constitutional and Legal Literacy

The Ministry, over the years, has ensured that women get proper education and legal literacy particularly on: 

1. Family laws

2. Maintenance laws;

3. Marriage laws; 

4. Wills and Inheritance laws;

5. Domestic Violence Act; and

    Children’s Rights

2.0 COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT 

ACHIEVEMENTS SINCE 1980

Each Ward has been allocated a resident Ward Development Coordinator (WDC)/Community Development Coordinator (CDC) who is a foot soldier based right in the community.

Community Development Coordinators (CDCs) act as Secretariat in the Ward Development Committees.

Between 1983 and 1987 a total of 36 728 tutors had been trained and a total of 501 854 learners enrolled.

By 1985 a total of 4 400 pre-schools had been constructed, with an estimate enrolment of 218 800 per annum. 

The Community Development Coordinators assisted community groups to start community gardens/projects in every ward.

In 1981, a total of 1 616 projects were initiated.  In 1984 the figure had grown to 20 360 projects involving 451 988 people.   

Two (2) National Training Centres were acquired namely; the National Training Centre for Rural Women, in Mashonaland East Province and Rodger Howman National Training Centre in Masvingo Province. The centres were designed to meet the training needs of rural communities particularly those organised community groups. The centres are staffed with qualified trainers. Below are courses offered at the two National Training Centres:

Entrepreneurship Development

Baking;

Food Processing;

Poultry Management;

Clothing Technology and Interior Decoration;

Bee-Keeping and Honey Processing;

Detergents Making;

Mushroom Production;

Candle wicking and Drawn Thread work;

Tie and Dye & Batik

Packaging and Labelling

Established Community Development Fund in 2005. Eight (8) Model Community gardens were funded in 2018 using the Zimbabwe Community Development Fund (ZCDF) and 24 community projects were initiated 

The Ministry facilitated the establishment, resuscitation and capacitation of Community Based Centres for Skills and Entrepreneurship Development.  So far, 2 Community based Centres that is Dambatsoko in Mazowe, Mashonaland Central and Gwelutshena, in Nkayi, Matabeleland North Provinces had been resuscitated and are yet to be commissioned.   

Resuscitated and established Duma Community Centre in Masvingo Province and Chapoto in Kanyemba, Mashonaland Central Province, respectively.

Established three (3) Handicraft Centres namely; Great Zimbabwe in Masvingo, Binga in Matabeleland North and Biriri in Manicaland Provinces were resuscitated and Commissioned in 2019 and 2020 respectively save for Biriri which is yet to the commissioned.   

3.0 SMALL AND MEDIUM ENTERPRISES DEVELOPMENT 

1. The Government guided by the Growth with Equity Policy established the Small Enterprises Development Corporation (SEDCO) which is now the Small and Medium Development Corporation (SMEDCO) in 1983 to facilitate the establishment and growth of SMEs in the country through providing financing and business development support services. Over the years, SMEDCO has been creating and sustaining employment. 

2. Given the rapid growth of Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) sector, the government established a full-fledged Ministry to drive the growth and development of the sector in 2002.

3. The government also amended the SEDCO Act promulgated the SME Act Chapter 24:12 to provide legislative backing to the development of the sector.

4. The MSME Policy was formulated in 2004 and has been revised over the years to take into account the developments in the economy.   

5. Government commissioned the FinScope MSME Survey in 2012, a comprehensive survey which brought to light the huge contribution of the MSME sector to the economy. The survey revealed that over 5.7 million people are employed in the sector. 

6. Since 2014, the Ministry has been implementing various programmes and the following were achieved:-

Improving the Enabling Legal and Regulatory Environment 

The Ministry contributed towards the Ease of Doing Business Reforms, which resulted in some of the regulatory processes being done on-line such as filing of tax returns and business registration and reactivation of the Private Business Corporation as a form of business under which MSMEs can register. 

Management and Technical Skills Development 

A total of 140 323 MSMEs were trained in technical and managerial skills including 2 423 who were trained in the disciplines of CNC Milling and Turning Technology, AutoCAD Levels 1, 2 and 3, Pro-Engineering, Machining Technology, Welding Technology and Wood Technology.

Market Development and Trade Promotion

A total of 25 132 MSMEs were exposed to local (ZITF, Agricultural Shows and Expos) and export markets in countries that included Malawi, Tanzania, Zambia, Mozambique, Botswana, Swaziland, Namibia, Japan and Indonesia, China, Russia among many others. 

Business Linkages 

The Ministry facilitated horizontal business linkages among MSMEs and also between MSMEs and large companies. A total number of 1 344 linkages involving 5 245 SMEs were created in sectors such as furniture, aquaculture, horticulture, retailing, food processing, honey, market gardening and construction sectors.

Infrastructure Provision

A total of 25 132 MSMEs were allocated workspace throughout the country for their operations. Access to Technology and Production Facilities through Establishment of Common Facility Centres, Sixteen Technology and Common Facility Centres (CFCs) were established in all the country’s ten provinces.

Establishment of Incubation Centres to promote start ups

The India-Africa Incubation Centre in Waterfalls Harare was established with support from Government of India under the Action Plan of the Framework for Cooperation between the Government of India and the Commission of African Union.

MSME Financing and Resource Mobilisation

The Ministry had recorded over USD143 million (one hundred and forty three million) dollars) which the MSME sector received as support in the form of loans and grants from Government through SMEDCO, Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe and development partners such as the European Union, UNDP, OFID, AfDB, and American Friends.

The sector was also supported through SME Financing Windows under various financial institutions such as CBZ Bank, NMB Bank, POSB, and FBC Bank; however, the quantum of the support had not been recorded Development Bank (AfDB) under the Youth and Tourism Enhancement Project.

COOPERATIVES DEVELOPMENT 

The concept of Co-operativism started a long time ago in the pre-independent Zimbabwe manifesting as self-help groups, promulgated in the Cooperative Agriculture Societies Act (1909).The Cooperatives served mainly the white commercial farmers before independence. In 1980, there were 376 registered cooperatives in Zimbabwe mainly in Agriculture. These have since grown to 8 921 registered cooperatives with a membership of more than 3 000 000 people, benefiting more than 9 000 000 people, directly and indirectly, across all sectors of the economy. Today, the cooperative societies cover different sectors such as Agriculture, Fishing, Mining, Housing, Manufacturing, Arts and craft, Services, Transport and Savings and Credit.

Over the years productivity has grown notably, with the Agricultural Cooperatives producing 64 560 tonnes of maize and 27 240 tonnes of tobacco in the 2017/2018 season. The housing sector has delivered 165 300 houses from 2010 to mid-2019 throughout the country. Over 1 500 Savings and Credit Cooperatives (SACCOs) with a total membership of 29 524 have been registered to date. The SACCOs have promoted the Financial Inclusion Strategy as their savings now amount to over Z$10 776 403, their loan portfolio is Z$8 197 742. The current assets are valued at Z$9 271 886. The feeling across the sector is that the time is now ripe for these cooperatives to open a Cooperative Bank. There are over 218 registered fishing cooperatives across the country and they have generated employment for thousands of people across the country. The Mining has a total of 56 mining cooperatives with a total membership of 1 692. The Manufacturing, Multipurpose, Services, Transport and Arts and Craft Cooperatives with 19, 187, 43, three (3), and two (2) registered cooperatives respectively are also enhancing livelihoods and development of the country.

The Cooperative Movement in Zimbabwe is now structured with the Cooperative Federation as the national body and sector Apexes affiliated to international bodies. The movement celebrates the International Day of Cooperatives annually with this year (2020)’s theme given as “Cooperatives for Climate Action”. The Day underscores the contribution of the movement to resolving global issues addressed jointly by the Cooperative Movement and the United Nations.