Harare, May 15, 2012: A top official of the Women’s Coalition said on Tuesday that Zimbabwe is still too patriarchal to allow a woman to assume the presidency, but the organization continues to engage the Parliament-led constitution making process in order to entrench women’s rights in the final document. “(It’s about) getting a woman or a clique of women who are strategic enough to position themselves to take over as the president of a country; no one will allow us. I think we simply have to take it by force. I think Zimbabwe can have a female president even as... Continue Reading
By Alan Rushesha – In most cases, physically challenged people are given names or demoted from participating in the social and economic activities due to stereotyped beliefs of a society. Numerous people in society stand blamed of perceiving people with disability as outcasts who cannot do anything on their own and require special attention. However, a physically challenged crafter Manners Mukuviri has a testament to tell the world that his state has nothing to do with his in-born talent. Bravely, Mukuviri captures balance and movement both physically and emotionally while exhibiting brilliant ability to express emotions through form rather than... Continue Reading
London, 14 May 2012 – Aid provided to Malian refugees in Burkina Faso, Mauritania and Niger is insufficient, the medical humanitarian organisation Médecins Sans Frontières/Doctors Without Borders (MSF) said today. Since late January, nearly 160,000 Malians have fled their country for camps in neighbouring nations. Instability persists in Mali, leaving little hope that the refugees will be able to return soon. On top of that, another imminent threat looms: the rainy season, which will further complicate the deployment of aid. MSF is working in camps in Burkina Faso, Mauritania and Niger, and is concerned that the impending rainy season and the current shortage of aid will worsen... Continue Reading
By Sthandwa Ncube – Harare, May 2012: Two Zimbabwean young women activists on Tuesday called for more aggressive local outreach by government and non-governmental actors to ensure adequate and full representation of issues affecting women. They further noted that government should be held accountable for promoting and respecting women’s rights. “There is need to provide more information about how individuals and organisations can know more about the UN Commission on the Status of Women, as well as participate in the local processes leading to it,” said Lucy Mazingi, director of the Youth Empowerment Trust. Mazingi and fellow activist Grace Chirenje... Continue Reading
By Sainey M.K. Marenah, Shout Africa.com Special Correspondent In Banul, The Gambia – At the end of a two-day visit by the Secretary General of the Commonwealth, the Gambia government and the Commonwealth Secretariat have agreed to cooperate on five areas, key among which is the establishment of the human rights and media commissions. Kamalesh Sharma, who was in Banjul to among others deepen The Gambia’s engagement with the Commonwealth, especially in institutional strengthening, made this revelation yesterday at the Kairaba Beach Hotel where he addressed journalists at a press conference. Below we reproduce the full text of the statement read by... Continue Reading
