By Patricia Mashiri
Women leaders have called for stronger collective action to accelerate gender equality and women’s empowerment, saying Zimbabwe must move beyond commitments and deliver tangible improvements in the lives of women and girls.
The calls were made on Thursday during the Women’s Coalition of Zimbabwe (WCoZ) Annual Women’s Summit, held under the theme “Voice. Power. Lead.”, where the coalition also launched the 2026 State of Women Report, an independent assessment tracking progress on women’s rights and gender equality in Zimbabwe.
Delivering the keynote address, Dr Hellen Venganai, Director of the Gender Transformative Sciences Department at the Women’s University in Africa, urged participants to place women at the centre of every conversation on development.
“Behind every statistic on gender inequality is a woman, a girl, a family and a community whose lives are directly affected. There are women striving to access education, seeking economic opportunities, leading households and confronting violence. As we deliberate, let us remember that our work is ultimately about transforming lives and affirming human dignity,” she said.
She described the launch of the 2026 State of Women Report as significant, saying it provides an honest reflection of Zimbabwe’s progress, challenges and unfinished work in advancing gender equality.
“Facts help us challenge misinformation, strengthen advocacy and inspire action rooted in reality rather than rhetoric,” she said.
Venganai also called for stronger partnerships among government, Parliament, civil society, academia, faith-based organisations, development partners, the media, the private sector and communities, saying sustainable transformation requires collective effort.
Opening the summit, Women’s Coalition of Zimbabwe Chairperson Muchanyara Cynthia Mukamuri said the gathering was more than just an annual event, but a platform where women reflect on their realities, celebrate achievements, confront persistent inequalities and build strategies for meaningful action.
“It is a space where women come together to reflect honestly on our realities, celebrate our collective achievements, challenge the systems that continue to marginalise us, and imagine new possibilities for a more just and inclusive Zimbabwe.
“Today is particularly significant because we officially launch the 2026 State of Women Report, Zimbabwe’s flagship independent assessment of the status of women’s rights and gender equality. It measures progress, identifies implementation gaps and challenges all of us to move from commitments on paper to tangible improvements in the lives of women and girls,” she said.
Mukamuri noted that although Zimbabwe has adopted progressive constitutional provisions and policy frameworks promoting gender equality, many women continue to face barriers to economic justice, leadership opportunities, quality healthcare, education, freedom from violence and equal participation in decision-making.
She also highlighted that women’s rights organisations are operating in an increasingly challenging environment characterised by shrinking civic space, economic uncertainty and changing development financing.
Teresa Mugadza, a governance and legal expert, said the report showed that Zimbabwe had made notable progress in advancing gender equality compared to many countries in the region, while highlighting areas that still require urgent attention.
“Two key issues emerging from the report are that maternal mortality has declined, although the figures remain worryingly high. With reduced access to funding, there is concern that these gains could be reversed if investments in women’s health are not sustained.
“Another important finding is the need to strengthen Zimbabwe’s response to mental health, recognising that mental well-being is just as important as other health priorities,” she said.
The summit brought together representatives from government, Parliament, constitutional commissions, development partners, civil society organisations, academia, the private sector and women’s rights activists from across Zimbabwe to discuss strategies for advancing gender equality and strengthening women’s leadership.
