By Stephen Chandisareva.
Harare, Zimbabwe (News of the South) – Government has commended the importance family unity as the nucleus of society and key driver to socio-economic development.
Speaking while commemorating 2017 International Day of Families on Monday, Women Affairs, Gender and Community Development Minister Hon Nyasha E Chikwinya said the government has remained committed in maintaining family unity and promotion of education for the welfare of children so as to promote socio-economic development.
The International Day of Families is observed on the 15th of May every year. This year’s observance focuses on the role of families and family-oriented policies in promoting education and overall well-being of their members. The Day is to raise awareness of the role of families in promoting early childhood education and lifelong learning opportunities for children and youth.
The theme for this year’s International Day of Families is “Families, education and well-being.”
“The government of Zimbabwe attaches great importance to the family unit as provided for in the constitution of Zimbabwe and the ZIMASSET economic blueprint. Section 25 of the Constitution calls for the protection of the family and eradication of domestic violence. The constitutional provisions seek to protect the family unit from any forms of violence. Gender parity in primary education has been achieved and this is quite commendable. It is important to note that the government continues its strides to achieve gender parity for secondary and tertiary education where there is still a gap.
“My Ministry is playing a pivotal role in advocating and lobbying for the empowerment of women and the girl child in line with the adage that if you educate a woman, you educate the nation. Research has also shown that educated women are able to provide for their families and the general well-being of their families.
“My Ministry has noted with concern the rising cases of child marriages, gender based violence and human trafficking. These scourges are threatening the family unit in Zimbabwe. In order to guard the family from such malpractices, my Ministry has put in place programmes and frameworks to protect the family unit.
“My Ministry has also put in place various empowerment initiatives to empower the family unit. These include the soon to be launched Women Microfinance Bank which will be an avenue for providing access to affordable capital for women’s economic enterprises. Economic enterprise run by women have proved to be effective in strengthening the family unit as most women will render their support unreservedly.
“My Ministry is also raising awareness on non-communicable diseases through the Women in Health programme and this resonates well with this year’s theme for promoting the well- being of the family unit. A total of 9 500 women have received awareness on cervical cancer, she said.”
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