Tag: WOMEN’S RIGHTS

Candlelight Ceremony Brings 16 Days of Activism to a Close as WCoZ, Hivos Reflect on Gender Justice

Healthtimes

By Patricia Mashiri The Women’s Coalition of Zimbabwe (WCoZ) and Hivos have concluded the 16 Days of Activism against Gender-Based Violence with a candlelight ceremony that brought together persons with disabilities and representatives from various organisations working with vulnerable groups. Aligned with this year’s theme, “Unite to end digital violence against all women and girls,” the workshop aimed to highlight the challenges women with disabilities face online and explore ways of addressing and preventing digital abuse. Speaking on the sidelines of the event, WCoZ Programmes Manager Rotina Mafume-Musara said the…

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Why media narratives matter for safe abortion and reproductive justice in Zimbabwe

Healthtimes

By Memory Pamella Kadau “Abortion kills.” “Abortion is illegal.” “Abortion is a sin.” “Baby Dumped in Bush as Illegal Abortions Rise.” “Zimbabwe: Our Ugly Secret – Abortion, Illegal but Thriving.” “How Can Zimbabwe Allow Abortion When It Has Just Abolished the Death Penalty?” “Zimbabwe: Historic Victory for Reproductive Justice – High Court Ruling.” “New Abortion Guidelines Expand Choice in Zimbabwe.” These are the headlines that shape Zimbabwean opinions long before anyone reads the actual law. Media breaking stigma or building it? The media plays a key role in shaping public…

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Why Reforming the Termination of Pregnancy Act Can No Longer Wait

Michael Gwarisa

By Edinah Masiyiwa I have been closely following recent developments on access to safe abortion for women and girls in Zimbabwe. As I reflect on the Women’s Action Group’s (WAG) campaign on safe abortion in the early 1990s, I am encouraged by how far the country has come on this issue. When WAG advocated for access to safe abortion then, the organisation faced intense opposition that ultimately silenced the public campaign. Quiet, behind-the-scenes advocacy continued, eventually resulting in post-abortion care being adopted as a key component of reproductive health services—an…

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Investing in Zimbabwe’s Girls isn’t Charity, it’s a National Imperative

Healthtimes

By Etona Ekole, UNICEF Zimbabwe Representative On this International Day of the Girl (October 11), UNICEF Zimbabwe’s Representative, Etona Ekole, highlights the immense potential of Zimbabwean girls and the critical importance of investing in their futures. ​ She emphasizes that every girl lost to child marriage or school dropout represents a lost future leader. ​ A personal encounter with an aspiring biochemist in Epworth illustrates why shifting perspectives is vital for Zimbabwe’s economic and social progress. ​ On this International Day of the Girl, my thoughts are not on statistics…

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Zimbabwe and UNFPA Begin Consultations for 9th Country Programme (2027–2031)

Michael Gwarisa

By Michael Gwarisa The Government of Zimbabwe and the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) have commenced consultations to develop the 9th Country Programme of Cooperation, which will run from 2027 to 2031. The two-day Stakeholder Engagement Workshop, taking place in Harare from 6 to 7 October 2025, brings together senior government officials, civil society, academia, youth representatives, and development partners to collectively shape the country’s future priorities for sexual and reproductive health and rights (SRHR), gender equality, and population dynamics. According to the concept note, the workshop seeks to “collectively…

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South African court rules that men can take wife’s surname

Healthtimes

South Africa’s highest court has ruled that husbands can take the surname of their wives, overturning a law that barred them from doing so. In a victory for two couples who brought the case, the Constitutional Court ruled that the law amounted to gender-based discrimination. Henry van der Merwe was denied the right to take the surname of his wife Jana Jordaan, while Andreas Nicolas Bornman could not hyphenate his surname to include Donnelly, the surname of his wife, Jess Donnelly-Bornman, the public broadcaster, SABC, reports. Parliament will now have…

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Women Frustrated by Delays in Identifying Rapist of Grade 7 Pupil at Rank

Michael Gwarisa

By Michael Gwarisa  Women’s organisations have expressed frustration over the failure to identify and bring to justice the tout reportedly responsible for raping a minor in a parked commuter omnibus at the Rezende bus rank. To voice their concerns, members of the Women’s Coalition of Zimbabwe (WCoZ) converged on Friday at a Sexual Gender-Based Violence (SGBV) Outreach Activity at the Ruzende Parkade Rank. The event, attended by women of all ages, was aimed at showing solidarity with the affected child and other women and girls who have suffered abuse at…

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Demystifying Gender Equality

Healthtimes

By Michael Gwarisa  SAFAIDS this week hosted a two day symposium dubbed Changing The River’s Flow, a gender norms transformative programme aimed at encouraging young people, both male and female to take part in the fight against gender inequalities and Gender Based Violence (GBV). For years, women across the globe have been pushing for equal rights in the home, political sphere and economy. Going down history, the concept of Feminism has seen a number phases and movements coming into play all in the name of fighting and addressing the imbalances…

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