‘Support Gender Commission Bill’

via ‘Support Gender Commission Bill’ | The Herald February 13, 2015

Information, Media and Broadcasting Services Deputy Minister Cde Monica Mutsvangwa says women MPs from all parties should support the Gender Commission Bill to ensure gender balance in all social sectors.

Addressing participants at a two-day workshop organised by the Zimbabwe Women Lawyers Association in Kadoma recently, the deputy minister emphasised the need for women parliamentarians to unite so that women’s issues are articulated and incorporated in the new Bill.

“We need to work across the political divide and to remain united as a women’s caucus if we are to make a difference in our society,” Cde Mutsvangwa said. “We need not to look at which party one is coming from, it is only when we try to divide ourselves that we do not go far. It is us the women’s caucus who will push and ensure that gender-sensitive legislation is enacted. We need to gear ourselves up for the realignment of our current pieces of legislation to the new Constitution.”

She underscored the need for women parliamentarians to play an active role in the process leading to the enactment of the Bill. If passed into law, the Bill will become the enabling Act for the new Gender Commission established by the new Constitution.

The Gender Commission Bill seeks to establish a nine-member commission whose primary role will be to mainstream gender equality in both private and public institutions. The Bill was gazetted last year in July.

Speaking at the same event, Deputy Speaker of the National Assembly Cde Mabel Chinomona urged women legislators to gear up for the debating of the Bill to pave way for its enactment.

“As Parliament resumes its sitting for the second session of the Eighth Parliament, the people of Zimbabwe are looking up to legislators to move with speedy in this process,” she said.