26 November 2020
Today is the second day of the 16 days of activism against gender based violence. The whole world goes into activism mode against gender based violence which commences on 25 November, the International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women and runs until 10 December, Human Rights Day every year. It was started by activists at the inaugural Women’s Global Leadership Institute in 1991 and continues to be coordinated each year by the Center for Women’s Global Leadership. Labour Economists and Afrikan Democrats (LEAD) calls for the prevention and elimination of violence against women and girls.
I am disturbed by the sexual harrasmment openly done in parliament against women Member of Parliament since time immemorial by male MPs. Yesterday 25 November 2020 Hon. Joana Mamombe referred to the Deputy Speaker of Parliament some cases that undermine and violate the rights of female MPs in the House and prayed that sexual harassment against female Hon. Members must stop.
LEAD is political organization that strongly believes in equality and elimination of any form of violence against women, we stand in solidarity with Hon. Mamombe in demanding
a privileges committee to be set up for matters of sexual harassment happening in Parliament.
It should be noted that legislators must be promoting laws and making sure that stiffer penalties on GBV are in place despite of class society or political affiliation. It is mockery to the electorate in Zimbabwe to have some so called Hon. Members being perpetrators
of GBV instead of being advocates against GBV.
I am calling to order Hon. Chinotimba and all other male MPs who thrive on sexual harassment and offensive statements to reform and lead by example. Their conduct is abuse to women and we demand an apology to all women in Zimbabwe from all the MPs in the 9th Parliament who have verbally assaulted any female MP in the August House.
Parliament must protect women and ensure that the August House is a safe space for women. Women must feel secure in the August House, so as to inspire younger women to aspire to be legislators. With the continued attacks on women, body shaming and name calling, women will just shy away from active politics which is a tragedy to women participation in governance issues.
Violence against women represents one of the most critical security challenges and is a major factor contributing to poverty. Reducing violence against women is key to achieving the Sustainable Development Goals in particular goals number 1, 3, 5, 10 and 16.
Zimbabwe is signatory to the international human rights frameworks for women’s rights. Zimbabwe ratified the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women (CEDAW) in 1991 which is considered as the women’s bill of rights. Under this Convention states have the obligation to review their legal systems in order to end discrimination and to establish institutions that protect women. As part of the obligations, CEDAW allows for the monitoring of compliance and receives complaints from the signatory states.
Today, I demand that Parliament of Zimbabwe should make sure that Parliament is a safe space for women and that any form.of discrimination against women MPs is eliminated.
This year I will be doing advocacy on GBV on a daily basis on real time issues of GBV happening in Zimbabwe. Wathinta umfazi wathinta imboko. Let us unite against Gender Based Violence and encourage all victims of GBV to speakout and seek justice.
#TogetherWeCan eliminate violence in our communities, workplace and in our homes.
Linda Tsungirirai Masarira
LEAD President
