By KIRSTY SIBANDA
Africa-Press – Zimbabwe. THE Zimbabwe Human Rights Association (ZimRights) has submitted a report to the United Nations Working Group on Discrimination against Women and Girls, highlighting the lived realities of women and girls in Zimbabwe.
The report, based on insights from consultations, community engagements and documentation gathered through women’s forums in several districts, underscores the gap between legal frameworks guaranteeing gender equality and the lived realities of women and girls in the country.
“This submission draws on insights from consultations, community engagements and documentation gathered through women’s forums held in Sanyati, Hopley, Buhera, Mutasa and Lupane districts, in addition to other community engagement initiatives conducted across the 10 provinces of Zimbabwe in which ZimRights works,” the rights watchdog said.
“The Constitution of Zimbabwe, 2013, particularly sections 17, 56 and 80, guarantees equality and non-discrimination on the basis of sex and gender.
“However, these provisions are often undermined by poor implementation, insufficient political will and prevailing social norms that entrench male dominance and restrict women’s rights.
“These challenges are especially pronounced in rural and marginalised communities, where cultural and religious practices further curtail the freedoms and life opportunities of women and girls.”
In a report released yesterday, ZimRights said the key issues identified were patriarchy, which dominates familial and community structures in Zimbabwe, dictating roles and responsibilities based on gender and marginalising the voices of women and girls in both household and public decision-making.
“Women are often excluded from critical decisions unless they possess financial power or gain explicit approval of male family members, particularly husbands or fathers-in-law,” the report said.
ZimRights said these cultural norms extended into religious life, where, in traditional churches, questioning male authority or established gender roles is seen as disruptive, while pentecostal denominations provide spaces for women leadership and participation, and families are often more receptive of women’s leadership in religious contexts.
“However, the same women who are encouraged to lead in church often face resistance or outright discouragement when they seek roles in politics or civic leadership, such as participating in ward development committees or local governance structures,” it said.
ZimRights said economic dependency remained a major barrier to women’s autonomy and participation in both family and community life, whereby women without access to income, land or property are systematically excluded from decisions that directly affect their lives and are often rendered invisible in both private and public spheres.
“In areas like Hopley, women reported that food and humanitarian assistance are frequently distributed based on political affiliation or social connections, leaving out vulnerable groups, particularly widows, single mothers and young women who lack the networks or influence needed to secure support,” the report said.
In terms of education, the report said poverty-induced school dropouts and early forced marriages driven by cultural and religious norms further limited girls’ life choices.
“The influence of religious sects such as the Johanne Marange Church, which openly promotes child marriage and discourages formal education for girls, directly undermines national gender equality goals and violates child protection norms,” the report said.
ZimRights said economic barriers like high nomination fees, whereby the presidential fee increased from US$1 000 to US$20 000 in the run-up to the 2023 harmonised elections and campaign costs severely limited women’s ability to contest in elections, especially for those from low-income backgrounds.
Political parties often perpetuate exclusion by not prioritising women in leadership development and candidate selection, and women who run often face gendered and sexualised smear campaigns that undermine their legitimacy.
“Several women in Mutasa district shared that they opted out of primary election races in their respective political parties after enduring smear campaigns in which they were called derogatory names, accused of having sexual relations with male party leaders, among many other accusations,” the report stated.
Despite constitutional guarantees for gender equality and protection from abuse, such as those outlined in sections 17, 56 and 80 of the Constitution, ZimRights said, women in politics continued to face entrenched systemic barriers, including cyberbullying and hate speech, which are inadequately addressed by the Data Protection Act due to weak enforcement and insufficient political will.
“High-profile female politicians such as Linda Masarira, Thokozani Khupe and Fadzayi Mahere have been frequent targets of online and offline misogynistic attacks, often subjected to derogatory slur and disparaging remarks about their physical appearance or marital status, tactics aimed at discrediting and silencing them.
“Testimonies from women in communities such as Hopley, Buhera, Sanyati and Mutasa further reveal that many women who aspire for leadership ultimately retreat, citing political violence, reputational attacks and social backlash as deterrents.”
ZimRights made recommendations to the government and the United Nations in Zimbabwe to help women and girls in the areas of politics and public life.
“Ensure full implementation of constitutional provisions on gender equality (sections 17, 56 and 80) by aligning national laws and policies with international human rights standards,” the rights defenders said.
“Support independent civic education and electoral participation programmes that equip women and girls with the tools to engage meaningfully in public life.”
Source: NewsDay
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