Since 1990 the worsening economic conditions in Zimbabwe has found many women looking to the informal sector to ease their plight but instead cross border traders found themselves being harassed and facing police brutality.
Zimbabwe Congress of Trade Unions (ZCTU) joined the rest of the world in
commemorating International Women’s Day, March 8.
For ZCTU this day was a day to reflect on gender in itiatives and policies and map the way forward under the theme “Women Unite and Inspire Change”. The harsh economic environment ZCTU marched to the community hall, Harare, ZCTU’s Women Advisory Council (WAC) chairperson Mirriam Katumba spoke of the need to create an enabling environment for women.
“Where conditions do not exist for women to participate effectively in decision
making processes, it is incumbent upon all of us to help in the creation of enabling
environment for the advancement of women. It is high time for women to stand and
be counted, to seek higher positions than just are voters…
Women demanded an end to labour market flexibility; free sanitary wear for women; free access to basic health care and maternity services; free treatment and care for breast, cervical and prostate cancer; stop to women abuse, rape and sexual
harassment of citizens at boarders and domestication of all International Labour Organisation (ILO) Core Conventions.
Mirriam Chipunza is an Assistant to GS, National Engineering Workers Union (NEWU), Zimbabwe