The ManicaPost
Liberty Dube Post Correspondent
MANICALAND today joins the rest of the world in celebrating the International Women’s Day where acts of resilience, courage and gallantry of women across communities are remembered and cherished.
This year’s celebrations are held under the theme: “Think equal, build smart, innovate for change”.
The theme, according to United Nations, focuses on innovative ways in which society can advance gender equality and the empowerment of women, particularly in the areas of social protection systems, access to public services and sustainable infrastructure.
“On 8 March 2019, join us as we celebrate a future in which innovation and technology creates unprecedented opportunities for women and girls to play an active role in building more inclusive systems, efficient services and sustainable infrastructure to accelerate the achievement of the SDGs and gender equality. International Women’s Day is also an opportunity to consider how to accelerate the 2030 Agenda, building momentum for the effective implementation of the Sustainable Development Goals, especially goal number five, ‘Achieve gender equality and empower all women and girls’,“ reads part of the UN’s statement on its website.
Women in Manicaland have collectively played a critical role on issues such as gender based violence, domestic violence, sexual harassment and abuse of girls and rights. Women interviewed described the day as a special day to all women in the world.
Susan Peters, who is the country’s first black supermodel, tourism guru and businesswoman who owns nine companies that specialises on hair beauty therapy, two wedding venues in Vumba as well as top of the range health fitness centres in Harare and Mutare, said the day acts as a reminder that women should participate in all sectors and make a difference.
“We have always been second class citizens but this special day is a way of raising awareness that women can participate and contribute immensely to the development of their communities in sectors such as politics, agriculture and mining among others. This is an important day for us that act as a reminder that women are critical in the socio-economic development of communities.
“They should be more women writes, more female engineers, mechanics and politicians. God never created us to be equal.
“Men were created to play their roles while women were also created to play theirs,” she said.
Manicaland Albino Association chairperson, Nyaradzai Mazaiwana, said: “This is a special day for all women. As women with albinism, we feel appreciated and recognised as women living with albinism.
“We are also happy that our rights are preserved. We are now able to hold influential positions in all spheres of life.
“We are also living in a country where living has been made easy for women who give birth to children living with albinism. It is a special day for us not only for us but for all women,” she said.
