Statement
8 March 2019
ZPP STATEMENT ON INTERNATIONAL WOMEN’S DAY
International Women’s Day (IWD) is commemorated internationally on 8 March to
recognise women’s achievements across the globe. The day also serves as an advocacy
platform for issues that affect women. The United Nations began celebrating this day
annually in 1975 although the day had been there from as early as 1909. Zimbabwe
Peace Project (ZPP) on the occasion of the 2019 IWD stands in solidarity with all
women across the political, economic, social and cultural divide. The theme for 2019
is #BalanceforBetter where the world must seek for gender balance and wellbeing of
women. Women play multiple gender roles in society including carrying and birthing
the next generation and nurturing this to adulthood. It then becomes imperative to
jealously guard the welfare of women. ZPP commemorates this day on the background
of violence that negatively affected women during the 14 – 16 January 2019 stay away.
A total of 688 incidents of human rights violations were recorded with 2723 victims,
1205 of the victims being female1; an indication that women were directly affected by
the violence. The plight of women in times of conflict is further increased by factors
that include biological makeup, cultural values, social norms and economic status.
Women were also psychologically affected by the violence as they witnessed their loved
ones being harassed during the protests and some had to bury their relatives who fell
victim to military shootings. ZPP recognises the fact that women are the primary care
givers in society and that their burden of care was increased during and after the stay
–away. They have had to care for the injured, and in cases of death, take care of the
children left by the deceased. As is the case in many other conflicts, women were also
victims of sexual violence with members of the security forces being implicated as
perpetrators. A total of 17 cases of sexual violence were reported 2. It is important for
Government of Zimbabwe to ensure that perpetrators are brought to book and justice
prevails for victims.
While Section 80 of the Constitution of Zimbabwe provides for the rights of women it
does not provide for the protection of women in times of conflict. During the stay away,
women, particularly those with disabilities were negatively affected by the incidents of
violence. The Constitution provides for the protection of persons with disabilities from
all forms of exploitation and abuse in Section 83(c).It is also important to note that
these two sections fall outside the Bill of Rights and are therefore not justiciable. The
extent to which these Sections guarantee protection is therefore minimal given that the
state’s duty of protection is dependent on availability of resources. It is important for
the Constitution to provide adequate protection for women with disabilities as their
vulnerability is two pronged- being women and having disabilities.
In order to ensure total protection of women in Zimbabwe, ZPP urges the government
and other stakeholders to:
•
1
2
Put in place legislation that protects women, including women with disabilities
especially in times of conflict.
ZPP January Monthly Monitoring Report
Kubatana Newsletter 19 February 2019
A Zimbabwe where there is Peace, Justice, Dignity and Development for all.
Mission: To work for sustainable peace through monitoring, documentation, advocacy and community peace
building interventions with our members and partners