Harare (New Ziana) –Zimbabwe will on Friday hold national commemorations to mark International Women’s Day at Munyarari Secondary School in Mutare, Manicaland province.
The country will the join the rest of the world in commemorating the Day, held to honor the achievements and contributions of women, the following day.
Minister of Women Affairs, Community, Small and Medium Enterprises Development Monica Mutsvangwa made the announcement during a press conference on Wednesday.
This year the celebrations will be held under the theme “For ALL Women and Girls: Rights, Equality, Empowerment.”
The event recognizes and celebrates women’s social, economic, and cultural achievements while acknowledging the ongoing challenges they face.
Mutsvangwa said Zimbabwe has made strides in increasing women’s participation in leadership and decision-making, citing the National Women in Leadership and Decision-Making Strategy 2023-2030, aimed at boosting female representation in public, political, and private sectors.
She also noted that in a historic move, President Emmerson Mnangagwa appointed the country’s first-ever female Attorney General, Prosecutor General, and a female Brigadier General who first trained as an officer cadet.
Mutsvangwa also emphasized the impact of the women’s quota system in governance noting that the introduction of a 30 percent quota in local government has resulted in women’s representation increasing to 33 percent, the highest ever recorded.
Without the quota, women’s representation would have stood at just 12 percent, she noted.
The 2025 celebrations hold special significance as they mark the 30th anniversary of the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action, a global milestone in the fight for gender equality.
Mutsvangwa however, acknowledged that despite progress, systemic barriers remain, including limited access to finance and markets, gender biases, and gender-based violence.
The event will feature exhibitions where women will showcase products such as handicrafts, food, and agricultural produce. Various service providers will be present, offering health, financial, agricultural, and legal services.
Cultural performances and panel discussions on women’s empowerment, climate change, and women’s rights are also lined up.
New Ziana
