Veritas Warns Amendment Could Scrap Zimbabwe Gender Commission

Southerton Business Times
2 days ago
2 min read

Women participating in International Women’s Day event in Zimbabwe — Veritas warns that dismantling the Zimbabwe Gender Commission could weaken institutional protections for women and girls.

As the world marks International Women’s Day, legal watchdog Veritas Zimbabwe has raised concerns that a proposed constitutional amendment could weaken institutional protections for women in Zimbabwe.

This year’s theme, “Give to Gain,” highlights the idea that societies thrive when women have the space, resources, and respect needed to participate fully in national development. Veritas said the message is particularly significant in Zimbabwe, where women and girls make up more than 52 percent of the population.

Concerns Over Proposed Constitutional Amendment

The organisation warned that the proposed Constitutional Amendment (No. 3) Bill could dismantle the Zimbabwe Gender Commission (ZGC) and merge its functions into the Zimbabwe Human Rights Commission (ZHRC).

According to the memorandum attached to the bill, the change is intended to eliminate duplication, as the Human Rights Commission is already mandated to protect all human rights, including gender rights. However, Veritas argues that the two institutions serve distinct purposes and that the Gender Commission plays a specialised role in promoting gender equality.

Risk of Losing Dedicated Gender Oversight

The organisation warned that abolishing the ZGC could reverse decades of progress made in strengthening protections for women and girls.

Veritas said the amendment could lead to:

Loss of specialised oversight: The ZGC acts as a dedicated watchdog focused specifically on gender equality issues.
Reduced protection for women and girls: Survivors of gender-based violence and discrimination may struggle to receive focused attention and support.
Weaker accountability mechanisms: The commission has played a key role in monitoring gender mainstreaming in public institutions.
Possible conflict with international commitments: Zimbabwe is a signatory to global and regional treaties that require strong gender equality institutions.

These commitments include the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW) and the Protocol to the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights on the Rights of Women in Africa.

Call for the Protection of Gender Institutions

Veritas said the proposed restructuring could significantly weaken Zimbabwe’s institutional framework for gender equality. The organisation urged Parliament, civil society groups, and citizens to carefully consider the long-term implications of dismantling specialised gender institutions.

“Giving women strong, independent institutions is not a loss but a gain for society,” the organisation said, adding that meaningful progress requires strengthening, not weakening, mechanisms designed to protect women’s rights.

Veritas called for a collective effort to ensure that Zimbabwe continues to uphold protections for women and girls as part of broader efforts to promote justice, equality, and democratic governance.