Report of the 2015 International Women’s Day Stakeholder Commemorations
administered through the Post Office Savings Bank (POSB). This programme allows
women to access funding without the stringent conditions of collateral and the
Government through the Ministry of Women’s Affairs, Gender and Community
Development is in the process of setting up the Women’s Bank.
She cited the enacted of the Domestic Violence Act (2007), establishment of the
Anti-Domestic Violence Council and adoption of the in 2012, the National GBV
Strategy as initiatives adopted by the Government to curb violence against women.
On the initiatives put in place to address health for women she noted the
resuscitation of primary health care facilities in rural areas and low income urban
areas and introduction of Antiretroviral Therapy (ART) to those living with HIV as well
as the “provider initiated HIV testing and counselling” to ensure that women are
aware of their status and therefore make informed choices.
On women and housing she highlighted that government launched the National
Housing Delivery Program which has an implementation guide. 30% will be reserved
for women headed households provided they can afford to meet the conditions. She
noted that the Ministry sits on the National Housing Delivery Program Advisory
Committee.
She concluded her presentation by making the following recommendations:
Civil Society and other stakeholders should accord the same emphasis to
women’s socio economic rights as they do to civic and political rights.
There should be a paradigm shift from Official Development Aid Agencies and
development partners to put funding towards actual projects for women’s
economic empowerment.
An increase in the in the budget allocated to the Ministry.
h) Women in Politics and Decision Making in Zimbabwe
The presenter of the session was Ms S. Bhala from the Women in Politics Support
Unit (WIPSU). Her paper first focused on the contextual environment for women in
politics and decision making in Zimbabwe. She noted that Zimbabwe was
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