Source: ‘Let’s amplify programmes to empower young women’ | The Herald
Lovemore Chikova Development Dialogue
The Zanu PF Youth League held its elective conference in May that elected a new national executive. Assistant Editor Lovemore Chikova (LC) interviewed the league’s new Secretary for Gender and Culture Cde Naledi Lindarose Mashingaidze-Madzara (NLMM) on her thoughts on the empowerment of youths, especially girls and young women.
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LC: Let me start by congratulating you for being elected into the Zanu PF Youth League national executive as the Secretary for Gender and Culture at the league’s national conference in May. It appears you have a huge task ahead.
NLMM: Thank you for the congratulations. Yes, yes, it is really a huge task, indeed, but nothing is impossible considering the unity we have in Zanu PF and the cooperation of the other comrades from the Youth League, Women’s League right up to the main wing when it comes to advancing the cause of young women. In fact, our party leader, the First Secretary of the party, President Emmerson Dambudzo Mnangagwa has already set the pace for us in terms of pushing for the empowerment of not only young women and young men that I represent, but all the people in general. In all my endeavours as the Secretary for Gender in the Zanu PF Youth League, I will be taking a cue from our President who is leading the way in ensuring that everyone is empowered as we march towards achievement of Vision 2030 that entails becoming an upper middle income economy by then.
President Mnangagwa has already made it clear that no one and no place will be left behind in developments leading to Vision 2030. My duty is to fit into this call by our President by presiding over issues to do with gender at the level of the youths and making sure that I look around to see if there is anyone behind left behind and issue alerts that will ensure that the young women are incorporated and are empowered as part of Vision 2030. My vision as the Secretary for Gender and Culture in the Zanu PF Youth League and our vision as the collective Youth League is in line with the vision already put in place by our party President, Cde Mnangagwa. Everything we do as the Youth League is anchored on development, development and development.
LC: What do you think needs to be done to ensure that the youths, especially young girls and young women you represent are empowered?
NLMM: I think you agree with me that young women need their voices to be heard, understood and respected by society in general. I hope you will bear with me in that although gender is a broad term not specifically referring to women, it is women, and more specifically in my case, young women, that need more attention because of the disadvantages they face. That is why I keep on referring to girls and young women.
There are lots of ideas coming from young women that need to be harnessed to enhance their social and economic inclusion. Gender equality is of huge importance if we are to have a society that offers more support to young women.
It is important to us as the youths that President Mnangagwa has been encouraging young women to be hardworking and participate in national development and benefit from the developmental projects. We want to see more resources and more opportunities being availed to these young women so that they can improve their lives and those of their families.
Our visionary leader President Mnangagwa initiated the Empower Bank which targets the youths and the Zimbabwe Women’s Microfinance Bank, which targets women. It is now imperative upon those who lead these institutions to make sure they work within the vision of President Mnangagwa of gender equality and gender parity by availing specific financial schemes targeted at young women so that they can access capital to start income generating projects
Generally, programmes that strengthen young women need to be amplified so that they can approach the future with confidence because they would have been empowered. In Masvingo province, for example, I have started some empowering projects like poultry for the youths and I assist them with some vegetable seeds for them to start market gardening. The youths are getting seeds for cabbage, spinach, onions and many others throughout the province, just as a way of empowering them. Gone are the days when young women could not break the ceiling.
With the positive attitude we now have as the Zanu PF Youth League in particular and Zanu PF in general, there is nothing that stop young women from achieving their dreams. It is our goal as the youth representatives to ensure there are tangible changes meant to uplift young women and avail opportunities for them to be part of the whole development agenda. We are happy that this is also the goal of our President and First Secretary Dr ED Mnangagwa.
LC: We have seen some communities still in the habit of discriminating against girls and young women. What do you have to say about such practices?
NLMM: We are happy that through the gender parity programmes being undertaken by our party, Zanu PF, and the wise counsel of President Mnangagwa, many societies are beginning to change their views and attitudes towards how they treat girls and women. But we are also conscious that there are some people who take long to embrace such changes. To these communities, as Zanu PF and specifically as the party’s Youth League we are saying the days of gender discrimination and the devaluing of women and girls are over.
Girls and young women should be empowered by being given equal opportunities just like their male counterparts. Gone are the days when girls and young women would be married off at the expense of continuing with their education. We are vehemently opposed to child marriages and other forms of abuse directed at girls and young women. Institutions must open their doors and embrace girls and young women because they have a huge potential to turn things around for the better. Let the girls grow up with all they need at their disposal and let them marry when they are grown up and as a result of their own choices, not being forced on men.
Child marriages devalue girls and young women. We speak strongly against sexual violence cases, the majority of which take place against girls and young women. Gone are the days when girls and young women were discriminated against because they are perceived as being of a weaker sex. When I move around and meet girls and young women, all I see are strong and determined people who can achieve anything, any task that lies ahead of them. No, they are not weak, they are actually good and effective leaders, all they need are opportunities and equal treatment.
LC: What should be done for girls and young women to be totally empowered by 2030 when Zimbabwe is envisaged to have achieved an empowered upper middle income society?
NLMM: These girls and young women should not be taken for granted, they are very much focused on achieving the goals they sat for themselves. But communities should be educated continuously about bringing the girls and young women into mainstream developmental and economic activities. The girls and young women should maintain their confidence and challenge to take up opportunities that come their way politically, economically and socially.
It is very realistic that as we achieve Vision 2030 being guided by our party leader Cde Mnangagwa, girls and young women will be at another level in terms of being empowered. But this takes the effort from all stakeholders, especially in development, to ensure that equal opportunities are availed to all without considering the gender issues.
LC: What do you have to say to the Government and other stakeholders on the need to uplift girls and young women?
NLMM: Let us continue to give moral support to these girls and young women as a way of building their confidence so that they can do anything in life. But moral support alone is not enough. These girls and young women need to continue being empowered with different skills like vocational training, business skills training, life skills and their legal rights. Armed with such trainings, the girls can participate in any sector of the economy without fear or being challenged by anyone.
It is important to us as young women that our Government led by President Mnangagwa is fully aware of the need to continue empowering girls and young women through availing business opportunities to them. We have seen young women venturing into mining, construction, farming and all other sectors previously regarded as a no go area for them.
The Government and all other stakeholders should continue offering support for these young women to succeed in their new businesses. Channels should be created for young women who want to start business to be able to submit their business plans for possible funding.
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