ZIMBABWEAN women are impacted by the effects of climate change but are excluded from decision-making processes, Zimbabwe Gender Commission chairperson Margaret Mukahanana-Sangarwe has said.
Mukahanana-Sangarwe was speaking during the National Gender Forum, which addressed challenges affecting gender equality due to climate change in Gwanda, Matabeleland South province, recently.
The National Gender Forum was held under the theme Gender, Environment and Climate Change: Building Resilience and Sustainable Development through Gender Equality.
In her address, Mukahanana-Sangarwe said the commemorations were held at a time when several environmental and climate change challenges were taking a toll on women in Zimbabwe.
She identified the challenges as environmental degradation, water, land and air pollution, mounting water and sanitation challenges, human-wildlife conflict and wetland disruption, among others.
“Women, in particular, bear the brunt of these challenges as they rely heavily on natural resources for their livelihoods and are often excluded from decision-making processes related to environment and climate change issues,” she said.
Mukahanana-Sangarwe said the connection among gender, environment and climate change in Zimbabwe was very complex and multifaceted.
“By understanding these interconnected factors, we can work towards gender-equitable solutions that address the unique challenges faced by women in the context of environment and climate change through adopting gender-sensitive approaches to climate resilience and environmental sustainability,” she said.
Meanwhile, First Lady Auxillia Mnangagwa said this year’s theme was timely and resonated well with prevailing challenges the country and indeed the world is grappling with.
“The devastating impact of climate change, if not addressed, threatens to derail progress towards achieving the National Development Strategy 1 as well as gender equality gains made over the years,” she said.
“This, therefore, calls for a multi-sectoral approach in addressing the environment and climate change challenges we face today including the gendered impacts.”
Mnangagwa said there was a need to move from policy to practice by implementing the existing gender responsive environment and climate change laws and policies.