International Women's Day (IWD), commemorated annually on March 8, serves as a global call to action for gender equality. In 2025, the theme “Accelerate Action” highlights the urgency of dismantling systemic barriers that hinder women's progress. I would say for Zimbabwean women, who have long been at the forefront of societal transformation, this theme is especially relevant.
Brief history of IWD
The roots of IWD trace back over a century, evolving from labour movements and feminist activism to a recognised global movement:
1909 – The first recorded Women's Day was observed in New York City on February 28, organised by the Socialist Party of America.
1911 – The first official International Women’s Day was held on March 19 in Austria, Denmark, Germany, and Switzerland.
1917 – Women in Petrograd, Russia, took to the streets demanding “Bread and Peace.” Their protests contributed to the Russian Revolution, leading to the adoption of March 8 as IWD.
1975 – The United Nations officially recognised IWD, declaring the year as International Women’s Year.
Today – IWD is commemorated globally, with themes reflecting ongoing struggles and progress toward gender equality.
What is the significance?
According to the United Nations, IWD is a day to recognise women’s achievements, regardless of nationality, ethnicity, language, culture, economic status, or political background. More than just a celebration, IWD has become a rallying point for women's movements and activism across the world—including in Zimbabwe.
March is widely regarded as Women’s Month, with various organisations hosting activities ranging from discussions and expos to awareness walks and special initiatives and campaigns aimed at highlighting women’s issues. Beyond the events, IWD serves as:
A platform to highlight ongoing struggles — from gender-based violence to economic exclusion.
A moment of solidarity — connecting women's movements worldwide and amplifying collective demands for equality.
A call to action
What IWD mean for African women
While IWD (March 8) and Africa Women’s Day (July 31) are distinct, both serve as reminders of the contributions women make to society and the urgent need for gender equality. These days advocate for policies and actions that improve the lives of women and girls, ensuring they have equal opportunities in all spheres of life.
For some, IWD is about activism — fighting for women’s rights and challenging inequalities. For others, it is a day to reaffirm commitments to gender parity. Some see it as a time to celebrate milestones, while others mark it with festivities.
For me, IWD 2025 is about the need to challenge Zimbabwean society to move beyond celebrating women in March only and instead commit to ensuring that women’s empowerment leads to real, lasting change.
What do I mean?
Zimbabwe has made significant progress in recognizing women’s rights through policies, representation in leadership, and economic initiatives. However, many of these efforts remain symbolic rather than transformative. Women's presence in politics and business is increasing, yet real decision-making power still largely rests in male-dominated structures. The biggest challenge remains translating these advancements into widespread gender equality and meaningful change in women’s daily lives.
What significant progress?
Despite ongoing challenges, Zimbabwe has achieved key milestones in advancing women’s rights:
The 2013 Constitution — A landmark achievement that enshrines gender equality and prohibits discrimination based on sex or gender (Sections 17 and 56).
Domestic Violence Act — Strengthened legal protections against gender-based violence (GBV), providing survivors with legal recourse.
The Marriages Act (2022) — Outlawed child marriages, setting 18 as the minimum age for both girls and boys.
National Gender Policy — Provided a framework for promoting gender equality across all sectors, including economic participation and leadership.
Women in Parliament — Currently, women hold about 30% of seats in Parliament, supported by the quota system introduced in 2013.
Cabinet and Judiciary representation — Women have held key ministerial positions, including Minister of Defence, Minister of Justice, and Minister of Women’s Affairs. The judiciary has also seen female appointments to high-ranking positions.
Zimbabwe Women’s Microfinance Bank – Established to provide loans and financial literacy training, empowering women economically.
The Legal Age of Majority Act — Granted women full legal status as adults, allowing them to own property, enter contracts, and make independent decisions without male guardianship.
Education Equity Measures — Past policies aimed to increase female enrollment in higher education by lowering entry requirements for girls in degree programmes, addressing historical gender disparities.
While these achievements are commendable, the real question is: Are these policies truly changing the lives of ordinary Zimbabwean women, or are they just ticking boxes?
Moving beyond numbers
Zimbabwe has more women in parliament and corporate leadership, but how much influence do they truly wield? While gender quotas have increased women's visibility, they have not necessarily led to policies that transform women’s lives. The real challenge is ensuring women in leadership are not just filling seats but actively shaping policies that advance gender equality.
Beyond quotas, mentorship networks, leadership training, and stronger alliances among female leaders are needed to increase their impact.
However, society must also support and reward high-achieving women, instead of sidelining them.
Too often, female leaders who elevate brands or institutions are later demoted or pushed out, while others are set up to fail in already struggling organisations.
Economic empowerment as a priority
Women drive Zimbabwe’s informal economy, yet they remain excluded from major economic opportunities.
Many work as vendors, cross-border traders, and subsistence farmers, yet they lack financing, market access, and business development support often due to challenges in securing collateral or writing winning proposals.
Current support mostly focuses on microfinance, which, while helpful, often traps women in low-income, small-scale ventures.
To foster true economic independence, policies must prioritise women’s access to land, ensure inclusion in high-value industries like mining and commercial agriculture, and provide financial literacy training to enable wealth creation.
GBV and women’s safety
Zimbabwe has strong anti-GBV laws, but weak enforcement leaves survivors struggling to access justice. Many women are discouraged from reporting abuse due to cultural stigma and systemic failures.
To make these laws effective, the government must increase funding for survivor support services, establish more one-stop centers, and ensure law enforcement is properly trained to handle GBV cases. Civil society must also demand accountability mechanisms that ensure perpetrators face justice.
Infrastructure from a feminist lens
Poor infrastructure extremely affects women. Water shortages force women to travel long distances, exposing them to violence and taking away valuable time for education or income-generating activities. Inadequate public healthcare leads to high maternal mortality rates. Unsafe public transport further limits women’s economic mobility.
A gender-responsive approach to infrastructure must prioritise clean water, quality healthcare, and safer transportation to support women's empowerment.
Bridging the digital gender gap
The digital space offers immense opportunities, yet many Zimbabwean women are left behind due to limited internet access, digital literacy, and financial constraints. Some women entrepreneurs struggle to transition online, missing out on e-commerce and digital finance. Meanwhile, cyber-harassment discourages women’s participation in online spaces — we have all seen what happens in the comments section.
Bridging this gap requires affordable internet access, digital skills training, and stronger online safety measures to empower women in the digital space.
What now?
As Zimbabwe celebrates Women’s Month and IWD on 8 March, it is time to move beyond symbolic gestures and drive tangible change.
Gender equality demands more than representation — it requires meaningful participation, economic empowerment, safety, and digital inclusion.
Accelerating action means dismantling systemic barriers and building a society where women’s voices, contributions, and rights are fully recognised and upheld.
- Madamombe is a gender and communications expert. These weekly New Horizon articles, published in the Zimbabwe Independent, are coordinated by Lovemore Kadenge, an independent consultant, managing consultant of Zawale Consultants (Pvt) Ltd, past president of the Zimbabwe Economics Society and past president of the Chartered Governance & Accountancy Institute in Zimbabwe (CGI Zimbabwe). — kadenge.zes@gmail.com or mobile: +263 772 382 852.
