WASHINGTON —
With just over a week to go before the March 16 referendum on the draft constitution, VOA Studio 7 from the Voice of America is continuing with efforts to educate listeners on key elements of the draft charter.
On Thursday evening we focused on provisions that cover gender issues. For example, Chapter 1, Section 17 calls on the state to promote gender balance in Zimbabwean society. It says the state must promote the full participation of women in all spheres of Zimbabwean society on the basis of equality with men.
The draft also says that the government must take “positive measures to rectify gender discrimination and imbalances resulting from past practices and policies.”
To ensure the government’s adherence to gender balance, the draft would require government to create a gender commission that will have nine members with the chairperson appointed by the president in consultation with parliament.
Edwin Ndlovu, a former draft constitution rappatoir for the Movement for Democratic Change wing of Industry Minister Welshman Ncube said the gender commission will have legal teeth to enforce the gender-based provisions of the constitution.
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Interview With Edwin Ndlovu
For more information on the draft constitution visit our website: www.voazimbabwe.com
