Female lawyers and the Office of the First Lady Auxillia
Mnangagwa have set up a 10-member technical committee that is expected to look
at various legal issues affecting women, including coming up with solutions
that are in line with the United Nations 2030 Agenda for Sustainable
Development.
The 2030 Agenda includes 17 Sustainable Development Goals
(SDGs) and 169 targets that were approved by Heads of State and Government at a
special UN summit in 2015.
Addressing women lawyers from the private sector,
Government and non-governmental organisations (NGOs) at a breakfast meeting at
State House yesterday, the First Lady said women were still short-changed
despite being indus- trious.
She said her office was often inundated with distress calls
from women who either wanted to raise a complaint or were desperate for
assistance.
“Many people think the First Lady knows it all, they think
she has answers to everything, but I cannot do it alone, especially when it
comes to this area to do with the law,” said Amai Mnangagwa.
“I want you to highlight, educate and sensitise me on some
of the legal issues.”
Women, Amai Mnangagwa said, continued to be victims of
gender-based violence, revenge pornography, wilful transmission of HIV,
inheritance and property rights.
She commended female lawyers for their hard work.
The lawyers said they were ready to partner the First Lady
in representing marginalised women.
An interim technical committee that will work with the
Office of the First Lady has already been set up.
The lawyers advised Amai Mnangagwa on the need to create
awareness of women’s rights, establish a robust legal aid system and set up a
legal desk in her office.
Law Society of Zimbabwe programmes manager Ms Isheanesu
Chirisa said the challenges faced by women lawyers were not peculiar to the
legal profession.
She said women continued to face sexual harassment and were
usually not considered for top positions in their respective professions.
Procurement Regulatory Authority of Zimbabwe (PRAZ) board
chairperson Mrs Vimbai Nyemba thanked the First Lady for providing a platform
for lawyers to discuss their challenges.
“Amai Mnangagwa is a real sister,” she said. “Sisters pull
each other up. The pull her down syndrome is over. When sisters work together
shoulder-to-shoulder, they do great things.”
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