She is now urging women to commit themselves to the process of political and economic change.
“Women should persevere in bringing about changes in our country’s political and economic platform,” said Rurasha. “Women will languish if they are not drawn into a new economic environment, or if there are no changes to the way they eke out a living.”
Rurasha said women needed to push the government to open up the economy and create the necessary enabling environment for investment and business.
“Economies must not be allowed to remain in isolation and must be made to progressively integrate into the global economic process,” she said.
Rurasha believes that the government should come up with a charter for good national governance.
“A good government should highlight the prerequisites of good governance in any country, such as avoidance of wasteful spending and corruption. A good government should also give women positions they deserve and, in the context of justice, transparency, equity and fairness.”
She added: “The charter should call for the implementation of policies which are pro-growth and these policies must be gender sensitive.”
She said resolutions for the advancement of women that were agreed upon by the government through the ministry of Women Affairs, Gender and Community Development long ago were still on paper.
Rurasha said the resolutions include programmes for the advancement of women, such as the setting up of an international research and training institute.
“The same issues are being debated, while a host of new issues, problems and concerns have arisen, which need to be addressed urgently,” she added.
In an interview, Susan Chipatiso from Women’s Resource Centre said forces aligned to President Robert Mugabe had stepped up a campaign to intimidate mostly women who are perceived to be MDC-T supporters.
“With Zanu (PF) pushing for elections this year, opposition supporters, especially women, are being beaten and harassed. They are targeting women because they constitute the biggest number on the voters’ roll,” said Chipatiso.
She added that the police was arresting female human rights activists on trumped up charges.
“It is unfortunate that every woman who talks about human rights abuses is arrested,” said Chipatiso.
In Manicaland, the MDC-T is empowering women through various projects including poultry, piggery and sewing. The Manicaland Coordinator for the various projects spearheaded by the MDC-T, Miriam Mushaninga, said they were giving women business opportunities with the local and international business sector.
“We want our women to create business synergies and share ideas and experiences as well as exploit other business avenues. We want to facilitate interaction between local women and other local and international business people so that they share their experiences and ideas,” said Mushaninga.
Zanu (PF) central committee member, Monica Mutsvangwa, who is the Chimanimani Senator, is spearheading various projects to empower women in her constituency.
Mutsvangwa has mobilized the women’s league to start income generating projects that include poultry and piggery. She has been holding workshops where women are taught leadership skills.
Post published in: News