Equality and Inclusion
Speaker of Parliament Advocate J.F.N. Mudenda addressing delegates at the HeForShe Recruitment and Popularization event on 16 July 2024 at the new Parliament.
​Zimbabwe Institute has a partnership with Parliament of Zimbabwe that spans over a period of sixteen years and recently renewed this Memorandum of Understand, to cover work to be implemented in 2025. ZI’s work centres on promoting increased participation of women in politics, leadership and decision making and works in collaboration with the Zimbabwe Women Parliamentary Caucus, (ZWPC) address women political participation. This issue remains a major concern in Zimbabwe as a result of a steady decline in the numbers of women in politics. Notably in 2023, the number of Parliamentary seats under direct election went down from twenty-six, (26) seats, i.e. (12.4%) in 2018, to twenty-three, (23), i.e. (11%). Several factors have contributed to this reduction including Violence Against Women in Politics, (VAWP), sighted in the 2023 report of findings on the “Nation Study on Violence Against Women in Politics, produced by the Zimbabwe Gender Commission, (ZGC). Cognisant of of Parliament of Zimbabwe’s commitment to champion the HeForShe initiative in the SADC region, signed at Eswatini in 2016, ZI, through the Women Parliamentary Caucus initiated a recruitment and popularization of male Parliamentarians as HeForShe Champions on 16 July 2024. The objective of the recruitment exercise was:
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To create a platform for dialogue between male and female MPs on the best ways to collaborate to achieve gender equality and women empowerment.
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To create a synergy where HeForShe champions stand in solidarity and work together with women to bring down barriers to gender equality.
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The Speaker of Parliament, Advocate J.F.N Mudenda officiated at the event as guest of honour at which more than 50 male Parliamentarians were recruited as HeForShe Champions.
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​​Following the recruitment of the HeForShe Champions, ZI partnered with the Women Caucus to host an orientation and capacity building workshop which brought together officials from UN Women, EU, HIVOS, PADARE, the Ministry of Women affairs Community, Small and Medium Enterprizes Development, as well as the President of the Senate Hon Mabel Chinomona as the Guest of Honour. The objectives of the orientation included the following:
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To sensitize HeForShe champions on their roles and responsibilities around gender equality.
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To provide a platform for skills training, learning, knowing and experience sharing on Gender Equality through the HeForShe framework.​
The HeForShe Recruitment & Popularization
The HeForShe Orientation and Capacity Building
The Speaker of Parliament Advocate J.F.N. Mudenda congratulating the more than 50 male parliamentarians who were recruited as HeForShe Champions.
A high level delegation who attended the HeForShe Orientation and Capacity Building workshop in Harare on 21 November 2024 amongst them, President of the Senate, Hon. Mabel Chinomona, Minister of Women Affairs Community Small and Medium Enterprizes Development, Hon. Monica Mutsvangwa and her Permanent Secretary Dr. Mavis Sibanda, Chairperson of the Zimbabwe Parliamentary Women Caucus, Hon. Maybe Mbowa, The Clerk of Parliament Mr Chukuda, Hon Sen. Chief Siansali other Honourable members of Parliament, Mr Isaac Maposa, Executive Director of Zimbabwe Institute and several representatives of Civil Society Organizations.
Delegates attending the HeForShe Recruitment and Popularization event at the new Parliament on 16 July 2024.
A group photo of delegates including more than 50 male Parliamentarians who were recruited as HeForShe Champions on 16 July 2024.
Hon members of Parliament who are HeForShe champions at the Orientation and Capacity Building workshop held in Harare on 21 November 2024 .
A participant giving his contribution at the Youth Inclusive budget Conference held in October 2024 at the new Parliament.
The Youth Inclusive Budget Conference
Through its partnership with the Parliament of Zimbabwe, ZI supports the Zimbabwe Parliamentary Youth Caucus, in programmes which seek to enhance the inclusion of youth in decision making processes that impact their lives and determine their future. In Collaboration with the Youth Caucus and the Zimbabwe Youth Council, ZI supported an in inaugural Youth Inclusive budget Conference which was held at the new Parliament from 18 to 19 October in 2024. The objectives of the event included the following:
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Provide a platform for young people to engage youth desks from government ministries.
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Identify youth budgetary requirements of government ministries.
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Assess effectiveness of youth desks.
The event was attended by three hundred and eighty-six participants, (386), from across the ten provinces and gave young people an opportunity to raise issues of concern that required to be included in the 2025 national budget. The conference engaged officials from eleven government departments to assist in identifying priorities and gaps as it regards youth desks within the ministries. Recommendations from the conference were presented by the Chairperson of the Youth Caucus at the Pre Budget Summit held in Bulawayo from 5 – 10 November.
The Deputy Minister of Youth, Hon K. Mupamhamga re-enforces the importance of incorporating views of young people, as part of driving the youth agenda in national development at the Youth Inclusive Budget Conference.
Young participants at the Youth Inclusive Budget Conference giving their contributions in a break away session in one of the committee rooms at Parliament.
Ms. M. Tabifor, UNFPA Country Representative and Hon. Stanley Sakupwanya, Chairperson of the Youth Caucus with some of the Junior Parliamentarians attending the Youth Inclusive Budget Conference
Participants attending the Youth Inclusive Budget Conference in October 2024
Executive Director of Zimbabwe Institute Mr Isaac Maposa giving his opening remarks at the Youth Inclusive Budget Conference.
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