The Women’s Action Group (WAG) this year celebrates 40 years of championing the feminist movement in Zimbabwe in their quest to advance women’s rights and end abuse of women and girls in all spheres.
By Ntokozo Gudu
To celebrate the four decades WAG launched a four-month campaign with this year’s celebrations themed “WAG@40: We move on”.
Speaking at the launch of the campaign on Wednesday, WAG executive director Mrs Edinah Masiyiwa said they will continue to fight for the uplifting and respect of a woman’s dignity.
The formation of WAG since 1983 saw the tackling of challenges such as domestic violence, inheritance, maintenance and custody of children during its first decade of inception. The movement has advocated for issues to do with inequality with a specific focus on women’s rights, the guiding theme then being ‘Women’s rights are human rights.’
“The organization also advocated for the law reform and popularizing the legal age of majority that was passed in 1982, hence the march is on until a change is witnessed on women’s status in Zimbabwe,” she said.
In their second decade, WAG actively joined the fight against HIV at a time when medication and information about the disease were scarce in Zimbabwe. WAG during this period advocated for the enactment of the Sexual Offenses Act of 2011 which protects women from sexual abuse and criminalizes marital rape.
“The second decade from 1993 to 2003 saw WAG responding to HIV scourge which claimed the lives of many. The pandemic had a huge impact on women in Zimbabwe as most of them were not empowered to negotiate for safer sex.
“WAG played an important role in educating communities on HIV/AIDS through its health programme, the organization contributed to advocacy which resulted in the enactment of the Sexual Offenses Act of 2001, today we celebrate that HIV is no longer a huge threat and some people who are positive are living a normal life if they are on treatment,’’Mrs Masiyiwa said.
“The third decade of the organization was characterized by a deterioration in the social service sector nationally. This was made worse by the decline in the economic sector, health services were out of reach for the ordinary woman. WAG stepped up its advocacy which resulted in the scrapping off of user fees for maternity services. The organization also played a significant role in advocating for the Domestic Violence Act. ’’
The WAG Executive Director highlighted on the organisation’s response to the 2008 Cholera epidemic and the mobilization of women in the participation of the constitution making process.
“We all remember the 1999 Constitution making process where people voted NO for that draft constitution, as an organization in this third decade, we mobilized women to participation in the constitution making process, in this season, we also responded to the Cholera epidemic and Murambatsvina Recovery Programme,’’ She said.
WAG also took part in national disaster responses during the Cyclone Idai and the COVID-19 pandemic.
‘’This decade we are commemorating, was characterized by natural disasters such as Cyclone Idai and Public Health disasters like the covid pandemic. WAG has played a role by mainstreaming gender in these emergencies. The period has also marked the fast growing use of technology which has also led to the emerging of online violence WAG has embraced technology to raise awareness on Gender Based Violence, Online Violence and Reproductive Health.
“WAG has a cordial relationship with Government ministries such as Ministry Of Health And Child Care The ministry of Women’s affairs which has made it easy for the organization to have memorandums of understanding in the communities we operate in,” Mrs Masiyiwa added.
Women’s Action Group was founded in 1983 following the arrest and incarceration of over 6000 women who were found walking alone at night under Operation Clean up.
It was this arbitrary arrest and denial of freedom for the women of Zimbabwe that saw a group of ordinary women taking up the fight against injustice.
Meanwhile, WAG Board Chairperson Elizabeth Mlambo, applauded WAG for remaining resolute to their cause despite numerous hurdles over the past four decades.
“We are responsible for empowering women and girls in claiming and enjoying their rights in a situation of transformed power relations between women and men, challenging the patriarchal society in our community. As we celebrate the 40th anniversary, we are aware that there is still more that needs to be done for women to fully live their rights. Today marks the commencement of our four month campaign leading to the 40 years celebrations that will be held in October, the celebrations will feature many activities to highlight the organisation’s key accomplishments,’’ She said.
