Mat-South NGO celebrates international women’s Day in style
Mat-South NGO celebrates international women’s Day in style
March 24, 2023
Liberty Mutamba
Choice News Africa
Gwanda – The month of March is regarded as the women’s month of celebrating their love and kind, in bringing life to earth and nurturing.
NKOMWA Foundation Trust has not been left behind this year, as they celebrated the day in style, in the Matabeleland South Capital of Gwanda, with several mothers.
This year, 2023 globally, celebrations were held on the 8th of March 2023 under the theme “DigitAll Innovation and technology for gender equality”.
In the same celebration mode, Nkomwa Foundation successfully held belated celebrations in style by capacitating women on Zimbabwe’s new Marriage Act and Inheritance law provisions in Zimbabwe.
The capacitation was facilitated by Advocate Mitchell Batanai Chigova of Mabhikwa and Partners Law Firm.
The workshop attracted people from all cultures that include participants from persons with disabilities, caregivers to children with disabilities, NFT officers and broad-spectrum community members.
The meeting was also graced by representatives from government departments and organisations that included Ministry Of Women Affairs, Ministry Of Public Service Labour and Social Welfare, Women Coalition of Zimbabwe, Zimbabwe Women Bureau and Zimbabwe National Family Planning Council.
The interactive workshop was an eye opener to women with disabilities. Information deficit to the disability community is on the increase, none of the participants with disabilities has never had the opportunity to be trained on the New Marriage ACT and Inheritance Law. Thus, the platform was an ideal and significant to all the marginalised group of people in the society.
There was diverse sentiments from the participants. Mrs Bridget Dube said, the new Marriage Act is gender partial, women are still at the receiving end, despite challenging the notion during public hearings.
“We challenged this partiality in marriage during public consultations and we advocated for equality, to my surprise men are still given green light to have mistress after tying the knot.” She said.
On the other hand Alice Masawi, a feminist fumed over the provisions in the New Marriage Act and said that, the philosophy of Ubuntu/Hunhu is at stake and witchcraft amongst women will be order of the day.
“The patriarchal society is haunting the female figure and women are still docile,” said Masawi.
On the contrary, other participants appreciated the knowledge gained. Evilinah Dube, the caregiver said,
“I am happy to obtain this information and this is gold which I would share to my family and friends. More so I have learnt that my nephews with disability has the right to be included in their parents’ inheritance just like any child. God bless the organisers of this platform.” She added.
The New Marriage Act was misinterpreted differently in communities as echoed by Babra Nkala- NFT Ward 2 Officer,
“Namhla ngiyabonga shuwa, sengiwazi iqiniso. Emakhaya umthetho lowu awuzange ucasiswe kuhle. Kwakulokunzima sokuthiwa labo mama sebevunyelwa ukuba lesithembo. Ngithabile ukuthi sengithole ifundiso enhle namhla,
Women deserve recognition and I am happy that NFT managed to convene this year’s celebration by sharing knowledge on new marriage Act and inheritance law, said Ms Nkala.
Pick Nkomwa, Director of NFT, also appreciated the celebrations mode and added the voice of concern.
“We continue advocating for a world free of bias, stereotypes and discrimination. A world that is diverse, equitable and inclusive and we can collectively all #EmbraceEquity. Concluded Nkomwa.