Making the constitution a reality for the women of Zimbabwe

The second Zimbabwe SADC Gender Protocol Summit closed at Pandhari Lodge on March 26 2013, with resounding pledges to advance gender equality in line with the new Constitution adopted days earlier.

Zimbabweans went to the polls on 16 March to vote for a new Constitution that guarantees gender equality and enshrines a quota for women in parliament (though not in local government) in the next two elections. The new Constitution also provides for the creation of a Gender Commission with wide ranging powers.

Thirteen women and three men received awards in a variety of themes, local government and media categories (see Annex A). The summit featured fifty-two (52) entries in 8 categories namely Gender, Gender Based Violence and Conflict Resolution; Education and Economic Development; Climate Change; Sexual and Reproductive Health, HIV/Aids and Constitutional, legal rights and governance. Other presentations covered institutional Centres of Excellence (COEs)Local government and media as well as Local government Leadership.

Download the press release below.

Download : Zimbabwe Gender Summit press release