Please follow and like us:

PRESS STATEMENT

*RE: APPOINTMENT OF A MALE DEPUTY MINISTER TO THE MINISTRY OF WOMEN AFFAIRS*

I note with concern the recent appointment of a male Deputy Minister to the Ministry of Women Affairs, Community and Small & Medium Enterprises Development.

While the Constitution grants the President authority to make ministerial appointments, leadership choices must also reflect political intent, constitutional values, and social justice imperatives. The Ministry of Women Affairs was established to confront deep-rooted gender inequalities, systemic discrimination, and the historical exclusion of women from political and economic power. Its leadership must therefore, embody that purpose.

Zimbabwean women remain disproportionately affected by poverty, gender-based violence, unequal access to capital, land, and decision-making, and chronic under-representation in governance structures. Against this backdrop, appointing a man to deputise a ministry meant to advance women’s empowerment reflects a persistent disconnect between policy rhetoric and lived realities.

This appointment raises serious questions:

▪︎ Why are women still overlooked even in ministries designed for their empowerment?

▪︎ Why does political leadership continue to treat women’s spaces as negotiable rather than non-negotiable?

▪︎ What message does this send to young girls aspiring to political leadership?

There is no shortage of competent, experienced, and capable women in Zimbabwe who could have filled this role with distinction.

Representation matters not as tokenism but as a democratic and developmental necessity.

Women’s affairs are not peripheral issues. They are central to economic growth, social stability, and national development. Women must not merely be subjects of policy; they must be architects of it.

I therefore call for a serious national reflection on gender representation, political will, and the sincerity of our commitment to women’s empowerment beyond slogans and ceremonial appointments.

Issued by:

Linda Tsungirirai Masarira

Afrikan Feminist | Political Leader | Social Justice Advocate

Please follow and like us:

Comments

comments