New gender policy for Zimbabwe
We have had a gender policy that has been active in Zimbabwe for the past eight years. Has it made a difference? So much money is put into developing these policies and then what? We put more money into the strategic plan but still certain demographical groups do not benefit. Some are even claiming we are closer to gender equality than ever before. We are forgetting that the rural population in Zimbabwe is largely made up of women have these women attained it.
With the women i meet in the streets of Harare of course i admit they are getting there. What of women in the high density suburbs? What of the women in the rural areas? I don't see the really marginalised women being considered when we formulate policies and sit in hotels to draw up plans. I see them struggling to get enough water to wash a tub of laundry. I see them hiding the bruises that resulted from last nights beating.
As for our approach to attain a gender sensitive media well thats a laugh. I appreciate that finally media and ICT's have been recognized as a thematic area but i don't believe affirmative action will reform Zimbabwe's media. If more women own the media houses will that automatically guarantee that the profiling of women in our media will become positive? The journalists coming from our tertiary institutions cannot even distinguish between gender and women. When they hear gender issues they translate it to women's issues. I believe the reform has to start at the training institutions then we can move to the newsroom only then can we take it to the boardroom. I am all for women owning the media but it is not the magic pill that will finally allow to us read the papers without flinching.
The funniest one though is the one about community radios and televisions. Where will we get the licences?. What legal framework will guarantee this? Community radio and television is important but right now in the Zimbabwean government who really cares?
I support good policies that project a positive vision but they will never change a country. What Zimbabwe needs are men and women who will commit to implementing the good policies that we already have not new policies that will be ignored.
We have had a gender policy that has been active in Zimbabwe for the past eight years. Has it made a difference? So much money is put into developing these policies and then what? We put more money into the strategic plan but still certain demographical groups do not benefit. Some are even claiming we are closer to gender equality than ever before. We are forgetting that the rural population in Zimbabwe is largely made up of women have these women attained it.
With the women i meet in the streets of Harare of course i admit they are getting there. What of women in the high density suburbs? What of the women in the rural areas? I don't see the really marginalised women being considered when we formulate policies and sit in hotels to draw up plans. I see them struggling to get enough water to wash a tub of laundry. I see them hiding the bruises that resulted from last nights beating.
As for our approach to attain a gender sensitive media well thats a laugh. I appreciate that finally media and ICT's have been recognized as a thematic area but i don't believe affirmative action will reform Zimbabwe's media. If more women own the media houses will that automatically guarantee that the profiling of women in our media will become positive? The journalists coming from our tertiary institutions cannot even distinguish between gender and women. When they hear gender issues they translate it to women's issues. I believe the reform has to start at the training institutions then we can move to the newsroom only then can we take it to the boardroom. I am all for women owning the media but it is not the magic pill that will finally allow to us read the papers without flinching.
The funniest one though is the one about community radios and televisions. Where will we get the licences?. What legal framework will guarantee this? Community radio and television is important but right now in the Zimbabwean government who really cares?
I support good policies that project a positive vision but they will never change a country. What Zimbabwe needs are men and women who will commit to implementing the good policies that we already have not new policies that will be ignored.
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