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The Herald, May 5, 1981 

PREGNANT women should be able to get financial assistance while on maternity leave, the Deputy Minister of Community Development and Women’s Affairs, Dr Naomi Nhiwatiwa, said here yesterday. 

Dr Nhiwatiwa told Zimbabwe Information Services in an interview that she welcomed the recent amendment to the maternity benefit clause in the Industrial Relations Act, but the position of women’s employment warranted further review. 

“It is not a crime for a woman to be pregnant, and they should not be penalised for it, “she said. 

Dr Nhiwatiwa added that the whole position of women in employment needed improvement, Ziana reports. 

“Some women have been in jobs for more than 30 years, and yet have not been eligible for pension schemes. This must be changed,” she said. 

Turning to plans for preschool education expansion, Dr Nhiwatiwa said this should particularly benefit the children of poorer families. 

The Ministry, she said, was going to open a series of pre-school training centres around the country. They would train community workers and teachers to man the pre-schooling classes. 

LESSONS FOR TODAY 

Women remain marginalised in the workplace with a lot of issues still outstanding. Women are still playing second fiddle to men in terms of salaries and positions, issues which need to be addressed. 

 Women play a very important role especially in terms of bearing children and this role should not be used against them especially in the workplace. In some instances, women lose their positions after taking maternity leave, which is grossly unfair. 

In terms of maternity leave, Government should also consider enacting legislation that allows men to go on maternity leave so that they can also assist their spouses because raising a child, especially a newly-born baby, is a collective effort that should not only be left to the mother.