Zimbabwe: The Strength of a Skirt — A Woman’s Journey in Community Empowerment

As I grew older, I married and raised children with my husband. When he passed away, some of our children were still very young. His death shook our family deeply, but I refused to give up. I opened a small shop at the Venice business centre to provide for my family. Through commitment, long hours, and endurance, the business flourished. I saved enough to buy two properties and developed them—proving to myself and others that a woman’s success is not determined by her marital status or societal expectations.

My parents had always believed in women’s capabilities, and their confidence inspired me to stand tall, even in moments of grief and doubt. I stopped relying on others for my survival and embraced the power of my own labour and determination.

While chairing the women’s league, I pursued training in women’s studies to better understand gender inequalities. This opened my eyes to how deeply issues such as class, education, and disability shape women’s experiences. I began attending conferences, joining advocacy groups, and facilitating workshops in Mamina, Mhondoro Ngezi District. In these spaces, women shared their hardships and dreams, revealing the many ways our society continues to sideline them.

The more I understood, the stronger my resolve became. I began pushing back against women’s marginalisation, encouraging women to assert their rights confidently. We engaged policymakers to promote gender‑responsive laws and systems. These efforts created visible shifts in women’s sense of agency and influenced institutional reforms promoting gender justice.

The Change

As a gender advocate and community leader, I have contributed to significant improvements in the council’s gender management systems, ensuring greater representation, fairness, and inclusion.

One of the major milestones was the appointment of a gender champion within the council. This strengthened our gender balance and signalled a new era in leadership. We also made symbolic but powerful changes—such as replacing the title “Chairman” with “Chairperson”—to challenge entrenched gender norms and affirm that leadership belongs to everyone.

Seeing firsthand how resource distribution affected men and women differently motivated me to champion gender‑sensitive policies. I advocated for gender considerations in the management of natural resources so that every member of the community could benefit equitably.

Beyond policy, I encouraged the council to address gender‑based violence, early marriage, and harmful traditional practices. We rolled out programmes promoting girl‑child empowerment and networking initiatives to build solidarity and skills among women and girls. The council strengthened gender equality measures for employees and communities, anchoring inclusion in every layer of council life.

These collective efforts improved the council’s capacity to address GBV, promote women’s rights, and create a more inclusive workplace culture. The journey was not easy, but the victories were transformative.

How the Change Came About

My journey as a leader—and later as gender champion—provided the foundation for driving institutional change. I began by establishing the council’s first gender committee, composed of six members dedicated to promoting gender equality.

Resistance was strong at first. Introducing new policies and challenging entrenched thinking about gender roles was met with hesitation and pushback. But persistence, dialogue, and community support helped break down barriers.

I played a key role in the development and refinement of major institutional policies, including advocating for a sexual harassment policy to protect staff and community members. This policy created clear standards for conduct and mechanisms for reporting violations. I also pushed for the review of the council’s gender policy to ensure it aligned with evolving best practices.

One of my most impactful contributions was championing a gender‑responsive budget, ensuring that all financial decisions considered gender-specific needs and inequalities. This shifted resource allocation and made development more inclusive.

Through these efforts, gender mainstreaming became an institutional priority rather than an optional add‑on. Today, our policy frameworks reflect the diverse needs of women, men, and young people, supporting fairer participation in development.

How the Change Will Be Sustained

To sustain and expand the gains made, long‑term commitment is needed. The council will continue:

• Strengthening advocacy for women’s rights and challenging systemic gender inequality.
• Promoting representation of women across sectors and leadership structures.
• Supporting women’s economic empowerment through women’s banks, loan schemes, and entrepreneurship programmes.
• Organising study visits and capacity‑building programmes for women and stakeholders.
• Enhancing literacy, skills development, and economic independence among women and girls.
• Ensuring continued funding, education, and support for initiatives that improve gender equality.
• Expanding women’s participation in policymaking and decision‑making spaces.

These efforts are designed to shift societal attitudes, provide real opportunities for women, and position gender equality as a permanent institutional priority.

Evidence of Change

The impact of our work is visible across Mhondoro Ngezi District:

• The district commemorated the International Day for Rural Women at Mamina Vocational Training Centre, where women exhibited products from their village business units.
• A Breast Cancer Awareness Walkathon mobilised the community around health education.
• The district gender committee conducted a learning exchange visit to Murehwa Rural District Council.
• Stakeholders began donating sanitary pads to support girls’ dignity and school attendance.
• Women’s groups such as Tough Bettles, Kumboyedza, Kushinga, and Kubatana are leading solid waste recycling initiatives.
• In Venice Ward 7, Kushinga group established a tree nursery, advancing environmental sustainability.
• Women’s groups manage nutritional gardens in Rutara, Gavhunga, Tyrone, and Living Hope, improving food security.

These ongoing efforts show real, tangible progress—driven by women, guided by community structures, and supported through strong gender-responsive leadership.

By: Elizabeth Savieri

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