Ngoni Dapira

LEAVING no one behind on women rights and human rights in general was the message emphasized last Saturday in Matika village in Dora, in Zimunya, about 20km out of Mutare, where the Catholic Commission for Justice and Peace (CCJP) Mutare decided to host this year’s International Women’s Day (IWD) commemorations.

The commemorations were held in collaboration with the Zimbabwe Human Rights Commission (ZHRC), the Ministry of Women Affairs, Community, Small and Medium Enterprises Development and the Ministry of Youth Empowerment, Development and Vocational Training.

Running under the theme, “For All Women and Girls: Rights. Equality. Empowerment,” this year’s national celebrations were coincidentally hosted by Manicaland Province at Munyarari Secondary School again situated in Zimunya, the day before (Friday). However, IWD commemorations are held on March 8, which is why CCJP Mutare decided to organise the separate celebrations on the actual day of commemoration on Saturday.

IWD is a global day that annually celebrates the social, economic, cultural and political achievements of women. The day also marks a call to action for accelerating gender parity. Significant activity is witnessed worldwide as groups come together to celebrate women’s achievements or rally for women’s equality.

There were netball and soccer matches played against teams from neighbouring villages, Gopito and Gura. To show that even in rural areas inclusivity of women’s rights to participate in all sports is being followed, the women’s soccer match was lively proving that women can equally do what their male counterparts do, even in sport.

Traditional leadership represented by village head Ashford Chikukurume as well as Ward 5 councilor Ngoni Hapaori also supported the event, buttressing the mantra of equality and women empowerment, shunning child marriages which are rampant in the area because of the influence of the Johanne Marange apostolic sect in Zimunya and Marange.

Below are some of the highlights of the IWD commemorations held at Matika village in pictures:

CCJP is a Catholic organisation which advocates and educates communities about human rights. It was established in 1972 to highlight the plight of the Zimbabwean people. It has offices in Harare, Bulawayo, Binga Village and Mutare, along with the presence of a ‘Justice and Peace Committee’ in each Catholic diocese.