ActionAid Zimbabwe Calls for Enhanced Public Service Provision to Uphold Women’s Rights, Empowerment and Equality

ActionAid Zimbabwe (AAZ) joins the global community in celebrating International Women’s Day, reaffirming our unwavering commitment to unapologetically support women in the fight against gender inequality and social injustice. This year’s theme, “For ALL Women and Girls: Rights. Equality. Empowerment,” underscores the urgent need for effective public service provision, as the lack of translation of tax revenues into services perpetuates gender inequality and violates the rights of women and girls in marginalized communities. AAZ recently launched the Gender Responsive Public Services and Tax Justice Research report that analyses this critical issue, revealing the disconnect between tax collection and the delivery of essential services.

AAZ commends the Government of Zimbabwe (GoZ) for its ongoing efforts to empower women and combat gender inequalities in the country. These efforts include incorporating gender equality principles into the constitution, implementing quotas for women in parliament, actively addressing sexual and gender-based violence (SGBV) through awareness campaigns and support services, and promoting women's economic empowerment initiatives through various programs focused on access to education, healthcare, and leadership opportunities. However, AAZ stresses that for these initiatives to be truly effective, more consistent efforts must be made.
 

This year's theme calls for action to unlock equal rights, power, and opportunities for all, fostering a feminist future where no one is left behind. In this context, the findings of ActionAid Zimbabwe's gender-responsive public services and tax justice research report highlight critical issues faced by communities in Hopley and Mbire, which also generally reflects the state of affairs in the rest of communities in Zimbabwe. Notably, 20% of respondents identified a lack of water facilities as a significant concern, pointing to serious challenges related to water quality and accessibility. The report emphasizes a disconnect between national investments and their local impacts, revealing that many communities are not benefiting from government initiatives. This gap extends to the education sector, where infrastructural deficits and resource shortages are pronounced. For example, over 92%  of schools in Mbire lack essential facilities such as electricity and proper sanitation. These deficiencies not only hinder the empowerment of women but also exacerbate gender inequality, disrupting the rights of women and girls highlighting a pressing need for collective action to ensure equal opportunities for education, access to healthcare, and essential services.

Therefore, AAZ urges the Government of Zimbabwe to:

• Focus on improving gender-responsive public services that enhance women’s realization of basic rights, challenging all forms of violence, discrimination, and exploitation.
• Promote economic empowerment through investment in women: This is a human rights issue, as gender equality remains one of the greatest human rights challenges. Investing in women is a human rights imperative and a cornerstone for building inclusive societies.
• Implement initiatives that close existing gaps limiting women’s access to opportunities and basic rights by advocating for policies that address systemic barriers and dismantle patriarchy.

ENDS//

For further inquiries please contact ActionAid Zimbabwe Country Director, Joy Mabenge:
Email: joy.mabenge@actionaid.org
Mobile: +263 772904479
Twitter: https://twitter.com/ActionAidZim
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ActionAidZimbabwe/
Website: https://zimbabwe.actionaid.org/