By Melody Gwenyambira
A strong voice of rural women resonated
from Nyava growth point as hundreds of rural women from all the provinces in
Zimbabwe and delegates from South Africa, Swaziland, Mozambique, Zambia poured
their hearts out.
Among them was the representative of the Rural
Women Assembly Mercia Andrews who revisited her painful at the local chapter
launch.
“Some
of you might wonder why a woman of my color is among you. I grew up on a farm
and I speak as a daughter of a farm worker not an owner. I grew up being teased
as the product shenanigans that happened on the farm. I saw what the rural
women went through and this motivated me to be a part of the Rural Women
Assembly,” she said.
The
pint sized colored woman has been working for rural women to be recognized. She
has toiled and tossed for them to have secure livelihoods.
“I
was motivated to pursue dreams that would see the rural woman being recognized
and her efforts being honoured. To my Zimbabweans friends, you are a very happy
people. You have the zeal to go on and you have a bright future ahead of you. I
want to encourage you to keep going and let you know that we will do everything
that we can to support you,” Mercia added.
The
masses that thronged Nyava Growth point ululated as they heard the comforting
words from Mercia.
Mercia Andrews with Tandi Chidavarume |
“It
gives me great joy to know that the Zimbabwean chapter launch is very
successful. I have had too many experiences with the launches and what I am
seeing here has seen a light shining in my heart. I want to thank the Honorable
Minister and her deputy and all the delegates and the rural women who have
come. The support from the policy makers is very important and we really
appreciate it.”
“A
rural woman is not a cow that has to be disciplined by a whip, she is not a
machine that is plugged to the walls and cranked. She is not a door mat to be
stepped on. She is a woman of value who should not be hindered and should be
allowed to participate fully in all sectors,” women from Masvingo province
said.
The
women who had gathered for the eventful Rural Women Assembly signed petitions
which raised their concerns on what they wanted.
“
As women we want to be prioritized and included in the process of developing
our societies. We are sometimes limited as men are given the upper hand in the
resources of starting projects. We want to work for our families and we want
gender equality so that we can have a brighter,” the women from Mutoko voiced
out.
The
women set up stands and exhibited various products which impressed their
Minister of Women Affairs, Gender and Community Development Honorable
Muchinguri.
“I
am impressed by the unique women’s products being displayed on this exhibition
in the district whereby hand bags are made out of paper recycling promoting the
green concept of promoting the environment. In addition women are at an
advanced stage as shown by the mining equipment that I saw. This shows the
innovation and strides being undertaken by women to promote their empowerment
initiatives,” Minister Muchinguri said.
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