Zimbabwe: Changing the narrative: Women rise – equal voice, equal choice

In 2004, after seeking permission from both traditional and political leaders, I became the first woman and youth councillor in my ward, and only the second woman out of 30 councillors in the entire council. I quickly saw how council policies, budgets, and processes failed to meet the needs of women, children, youth, persons with disabilities, and other marginalised groups. Long distances to school contributed to high dropout rates among girls. Gender‑based violence was widespread with weak referral pathways. Women had almost no representation in local decision‑making, and service delivery structures left vulnerable groups behind.

These realities strengthened my resolve to work tirelessly toward gender equality, inclusive governance, and community empowerment. Over the years, I have grown into multiple roles—community leader, gender champion, mentor, counsellor, policy maker, and advocate for women and girls. I chair key committees, represent my district nationally and regionally, and continue to champion reforms to dismantle harmful cultural practices.

The Change

The transformation began with capacity‑building workshops, professional networking, mentorship, regional exposure, and partnership with organisations such as Gender Links. I advanced my education, built confidence, gained visibility, and became a respected leader in my community. Today, I am recognised as a driver of change, having scooped awards and strengthened my ICT skills while inspiring other women and girls to lead.

Policy and institutional change has been profound.
We now have a gender policy, gender‑responsive budgeting processes, decentralised citizen engagement meetings, and gender‑sensitive recruitment policies that guarantee equal opportunities for women and persons with disabilities. Council receipts now carry a bold message: “No to gender-based violence.” A functional junior council, chaired by a girl, ensures youth voices are heard. The introduction of the Quantrix system has made gender budgeting more transparent and accessible.

At community level, transformation is visible and measurable.
Patriarchal norms have begun to shift as men join as gender champions. Public participation has increased, and communities have taken ownership of programmes. GBV cases are handled more effectively through strengthened referral pathways, resulting in reduced violence and more survivors reporting. Infrastructure development has brought services closer to people—clinics, boreholes, mothers’ shelters, roads, bridges, and police services now exist within reachable distances.

Economic empowerment initiatives such as waste management projects, poultry, goat rearing, horticulture, and sewing projects are transforming livelihoods. Women, youth, and persons with disabilities are actively participating and even taking up influential positions. The community now enjoys reduced maternal mortality rates, increased girls’ enrolment, poverty alleviation, and improved service delivery.

How the Change Happened

This shift was driven by deliberate, coordinated actions:

• Establishing strong gender management structures at ward and village levels.
• Revamping Mash East WILGF and Hub and Spoke committees, and inspiring other councils to form gender committees.
• Reviewing and creating gender‑sensitive policies, including those on sexual harassment, GBV, HIV/AIDS, climate change, and ending child marriages.
• Ensuring gender‑responsive budgeting and decentralising consultation meetings to reduce walking distances for communities.
• Promoting legal literacy and awareness of national, regional, and international frameworks such as the Constitution of Zimbabwe, SADC Gender Protocol, Agenda 2063, SDGs, CEDAW, and UN Resolution 1325.
• Leading community dialogues, intergenerational mentorship, school competitions, and campaigns on SRHR, climate change, and anti‑drug abuse.
• Mobilising resources and infrastructure development through partnerships.
• Encouraging inclusive participation and chairing of committees such as SDCs and VIDCOs.

Sustaining the Change

To maintain and scale this progress, we must continue advocating for increased women’s political participation to fulfil Section 17 of the Constitution and SDG 5 on gender equality. Continued legal education, enforcement of laws, economic empowerment programmes, adult literacy, infrastructure development, and gender‑responsive budgeting are essential.

We must strengthen sister‑to‑sister programmes, male champion initiatives, and intergenerational mentorship. Partnerships with development organisations will remain central, as will enforcing the Ward 1 blueprint on ending child marriages and drug abuse.

Evidence of Change

Concrete indicators show progress:

• Reduced walking distances to schools and health services.
• Lower disease outbreaks due to improved water and sanitation infrastructure.
• A gender‑responsive council budget.
• Increased reporting of GBV cases through effective referral systems.
• Improved girls’ enrolment, reduced early marriages, and transformed community attitudes.
• Increased women’s representation in council, supported by the 30% quota.
• Recognition through high‑level awards, including as a Gender Links Driver of Change.
• Personal empowerment, including property ownership and leadership of non‑traditional committees such as Finance.

Change is possible—because we made it possible.

By: Resta Dzvinyangoma

Link to the video