A total of 28 community wildlife scouts drawn from Mbire and Muzarabani Districts graduated at the Zimbabwe Institute of Wildlife Conservation (ZIWC) in Masvingo following the completion of a basic ranger training course facilitated by the African Wildlife Foundation (AWF) under the ongoing Swedish International Development Agency (SIDA) funded ‘UTARIRI – Integrated and Adaptive Biodiversity, Climate and Livelihoods Project in the Zambezi Valley, 2022-2025.’ By Staff Reporter Almost half of the graduates were women, signifying the importance of gender inclusion in developmental aspects, including the conservation of natural resources and…
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COALITION GROUP CALL ON GOVERNMENTS TO ACT ON GENDER EQUALITY AND PROMOTE HUMAN RIGHTS AT 76TH WORLD HEALTH ASSEMBLY
A coalition of almost 20 global organizations has called on governments to act to ensure that citizens have access to adequate health services at the World Health Assembly (WHA76) this week in Geneva, Switzerland. According to the coalition: “Health is everyone’s human right, and it is the duty of all governments to fulfill its right. Governments must make health for all a reality.” Kinza Hasan, Policy and Advocacy Manager at Women Deliver, one of the coalition members, added: “This call is important now that governments worldwide are in the process…
Read MoreAmnesty For Rapists Saga: Linda Masarira to petition President Mnangagwa to return rapists to prison
FIREBRAND politician and president of LEAD, Linda Masarira, is the process of drafting a petition to have all rape offenders who were released on Presidential Amnesty returned to prison and locked up until their sentence lapses. By Michael Gwrisa The development comes following the release of 4270 inmates during a Presidential amnesty by President Emmerson Mnangwga, where amnesty was granted to various categories of prisoners including those who are terminally ill, those who have served at least three-quarters of their sentence, or one tenth if over the age of 60.…
Read MoreFeli Nandi uses music to fight early child marriages
HAVING been married when she was around the age of 18 herself, songstress Felistas “Feli Nandi” Chipendo believes the world can be a better place if and when the girl child is allowed to be in school longer and if she is not rushed into marriage for any reason. By Michael Gwarisa According to UNICEF data, child marriage remains widespread in Zimbabwe and one woman out of every three was married before the age of 18. In Zimbabwe, some of the major drivers of child marriages include poverty, lack of…
Read MoreUMP chiefs commit to protect the girl child from sexual abuse and child marriages
CHIEFS from Uzumba, Maramba and Pfungwe (UMP) have launched the Chiefs’ commitments on promoting child protection and ending child marriages in an effort to reduce harmful practices that perpetuate child sexual abuse and marriages. By Patricia Mashiri With the help of Rozaria Memorial Trust, Ministry of local governance and public works and the Ministry of Women Affairs, Community, Small and Medium Enterprises Development, the chiefs who pledged their commitment are Chief Nyajina of Uzumba, Chief Chipfiyamiti of Uzumba, Chief Chinhanga of Maramba and Chief Chitsungo of Pfungwe. Addressing the National…
Read MoreJapan commits almost half a million United States dollars for increased access to GBV and SRH Services For Women And Young People
The Government of Japan has committed US$ 462,962 to strengthen Sexual Reproductive Health (SRH) and Gender-Based Violence (GBV) mitigation and response for vulnerable women and girls in the districts of Mbire and Shamva in Mashonaland Central Province, in a partnership with the United Nations Population Fund, the United Nations Sexual and Reproductive Health agency. Staff Reporter Zimbabwe is currently experiencing a multi-hazard humanitarian crisis where a protracted climate change crisis has been further exacerbated by economic instability and the COVID-19 pandemic, among many other factors. The multi-hazard nature of this…
Read MoreFrom Heaven To Hell In 12 Months: A GBV Survivor’s Story
NOMAGUGU Hurumba (22) is an orphan and a single mother to a three year old son. Growing up in Chiredzi, especially after the demise of her parents was never easy. To compound her woes, when she was in Form 3, Noma had to drop out of school after her siblings had indicated that they were no longer able to shoulder her school fees burden. By Michael Gwarisa recently in Chipinge She moved from Chiredzi to stay with her sister in Chipinge. However, persistent economic hardships in the country pushed her…
Read MoreLove Shouldn’t Hurt Campaign Movement Grows in The Grassroots
IN a move that is set to empower males to speak out and act against intimate partner violence in the homes and relationship settings, Population Solutions for Health (PSH) has taken the Love Shouldn’t Hurt campaign to rural and marginalised communities in Zimbabwe. By Michael Gwarisa in Bindura The Love Shouldn’t Hurt campaign is a two-year program that is implemented by Population Service International (PSI) through their partner Population Solutions for Health (PSH) with funding support from the Swedish Embassy. The campaign which started off as a mass media blitz…
Read MoreSAT Launches Workplace 50:50 Policy
IN a move that was meant to achieve gender equality at the places of work SRHR Africa Trust(SAT) together with Sex Rights Africa,a global organization that advocates for equality and equity at work place has launched the 50:50 workplace policy at regional level. By Patricia Mashiri The policy is aimed at encouraging commitment for addressing gender inequality at workplace which is urgent given the extent of sexual harassment in the workplace. Speaking during the launch, the guest of honor Commissioner Margaret Mukahanana-Sangarwe, the Chairperson for the Zimbabwe Gender Commission (ZGC)…
Read MoreManicaland Child Marriage Survivors Find Solace In Economic Strengthening Programs
DUE to economic hardships and prolonged schools closure at the back of recurrent COVID-19 induced lockdowns, Marvelous Tsambe* (16) from Chikore Village in Chimanimani entered into an early child marriage at the age 14 as an escape from the challenges back home. However, to her surprise, marriage did not bring the much anticipated economic escape. By Michael Gwarisa in Manicaland Just like most girls her age in her area, Marvelous fell for Majoni-Joni or those young men who illegally cross the border to work in South Africa. Whenever they return…
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