Harare (New Ziana) – Zimbabwe will continue scaling up the protection of women’s rights and upholding international and regional conventions which promote their freedoms, President Emmerson Mnangagwa said on Thursday.
He said this at the burial of the late Betty Mtero at the National Heroes Acre.
President Mnangagwa said Mtero worked hard in intellectually upgrading herself despite the segregation against most indigenous people during the colonial era.
As such, President Mnangagwa said during the colonial era, the late Mtero was one of the few academically gifted but disadvantaged Africans who got a chance to study abroad where she received training in community and youth development in West Germany.
“We will continue to honour our departed heroine by making sure that Zimbabwe remains part of the comity of nations that are bound by international and regional conventions that seek to promote women’s rights. We must also remain guided by our country’ Constitution which promotes the rights of women in all spheres of life,” he said.
“She became the first African woman to be awarded a Certificate in Adult Education by the University of Rhodesia. Soon after this, she was awarded the Associateship of the Institute of Education by the University of Rhodesia and went on to receive further training at the University of London in 1978. She contributed and participated in numerous training programmes and workshops throughout her career.
“The most notable one was when she served as a delegate representing Zimbabwe at the 1995 United Nations World Forum on Women in Beijing, China. Hence, as our country strives for gender equity, where every woman has equal opportunities in political, economic, security, technological and social developmental activities, we must give credit to departed cadres like comrade Mtero who played a critical role in the formulation of theoretical and legal guidelines for the implementation of gender balance at national, regional and international levels.”
In addition to her academic achievements, he said, Amai Mtero served her community through leadership and organisation of local cooperatives.
“We are, therefore, laying to rest a dedicated and selfless daughter of the soil, who had a motherly heart in terms of think tanking towards the creation of institutions, which are critical in the provision of basic human security and opportunities for disadvantaged children, mostly those who used to reside in the streets.
“Comrade Mtero was the founder and leader of the National Federation of Grassroots Women’s Clubs and the Association of Women’s Clubs in Zimbabwe, respectively. She was also the founding member and chairperson of Population Services Zimbabwe, which works closely with the Government of Zimbabwe and other stakeholders in ensuring that no one and no place is left behind in terms of accessibility to affordable health services,” he said.
“As a result of her Philanthropic works, comrade Mtero was awarded some accolades in recognition of her active involvement and initiatives, which saw the formation of women’s empowerment clubs and groups in many parts of the country.”
Some of the awards that came her way in recognition of her philanthropic work and gender empowerment activities include the “Ndichiri mupenyu” Award by the Women Filmmakers of Zimbabwe, an honorary Masters’ Degree in Community Development from the Women’s University in Africa.
In 2014, the late Mtero was awarded the Outstanding Woman’s Award for supporting women enterprise by the Zimbabwe National Chamber of Commerce.
“When we call for unity of purpose in our thrust for sustainable development, peace and prosperity, let us always remember that such calls have traceable history rooted in the efforts made by the likes of our departed heroine, comrade Mtero. She never discriminated but worked very well with every Zimbabwean regardless of ethnic group or region they came from. She dedicated much of her valuable time in training many local communities in Zimbabwe, including mentoring and schooling notable legends such as the late Shuvai Mahofa,” he said.
New Ziana
