Women are key players in the development matrix
ONE perfect way to empower a whole nation is empowering a woman. Despite the adverse
effects of the patriarchal society on community development, societies have found a new
strategy to promote development through engaging, involving and including women in
development activities. Women are indeed key players in the development matrix as they
play critical roles that improve livelihoods across societies.
Traditionally, women have been side-lined and unfairly discriminated from freely
participating in leading roles in our communities. They played subordinate roles and
concentrated more on caring for the children, and household chores. Whilst we cannot
criticise culture, we also need to concede its negative impact on community development.
Interestingly, our rich history has vivid success stories and contributions made by our brave
heroines. That in itself testifies to how critical women have always been in our societies
despite the patriarchy all those decades and centuries ago.
Whilst Mbuya Nehanda bravely confronted the settler colonial regime during the First
Chimurenga, we also had courageous girls and women who fought alongside men in the
Second Chimurenga. They have proved to be very brave and dedicated in contributing
towards the country's freedom.
At independence in 1980, we all saw women being appointed Ministers. We all witnessed
women coming together and forming successful co-operatives. Women have successfully
ventured into critical economic sectors like agriculture and mining. They have championed
their own motivational success stories, which will inspire generations to come.
Women have dominated in the health sector – a critical area in community development. At
village level they have taken up Village Health Workers posts (vana Mbuya Utsanana).
Women have teamed up in agricultural projects like nutrition gardens.
We also need to thank the Government for promoting women empowerment and giving
support to the girl child. Government policies have helped women to take up leadership roles
in politics and development programmes. We now have women in Parliament, women in
local authorities and women occupying top posts in the civil service.
As the nation targets achieving an Upper Middle Income Economy status by 2030, women
are key players in the development matrix. We need to involve and include them. We really
need to abandon retrogressive doctrines that have unfairly discriminated women in
development programmes.
By empowering a woman, we surely will have empowered a whole nation. We surely will
achieve an Upper Middle income Economy status by 2030. YES WE CAN!!
