By Fanuel Chinowaita
Mutare – Rural women’s rights and empowerment took centre stage yesterday at the Rural Women Engagement Forum held at Arda Transau, Mutare, where government officials, civil society, and community organisations rallied behind the call to break barriers facing women in rural communities.
The event, organised by the Ministry of Women Affairs, Community, Small and Medium Enterprises Development, in partnership with ZIDAWU Trust, the Centre for Natural Resource Governance (CNRG), and the National Association of Non-Governmental Organisations (NANGO), ran under the theme: “Unlocking Rural Women’s Potential: Breaking Barriers, Building Futures.”
Guest speaker Mr. Matandare, the District Development Officer (DDO), said the theme was more than just a slogan.
“It is a call to action, a commitment, a promise that your strength will no longer go unnoticed, your struggles will no longer go unheard, and your dreams will no longer be postponed,” he said.
He described rural women as “farmers who till the land at dawn, entrepreneurs who sell their crafts at the market, caregivers who nurture families, and custodians of culture and tradition — the unsung heroines of our food security systems, rural economies and social fabric.”
Matandare admitted that women continue to face barriers such as limited access to tools and resources, gender-based violence, lack of finance, poor market linkages, and the undervaluing of women’s labour. He pledged government support to advocate for equal access to land, credit, safe working conditions, and cooperatives that would allow women’s skills and voices to thrive.
ZIDAWU Trust, one of the convenors, said the forum was a vital platform to highlight the contributions of rural women to sustainable development.
“Rural women are the backbone of many communities, working tirelessly to ensure food security, manage natural resources, and care for their families. Yet they often lack the recognition and support they deserve. Through this forum, we aim to amplify their voices, promote their rights, and encourage sustainable practices that benefit both individuals and the community as a whole,” ZIDAWU said in a statement.
Civil society organisations also delivered solidarity messages.
Donald Nyarota, Communications and Advocacy Officer at CNRG, condemned the suffering of communities displaced by diamond mining in Marange.
“Diamonds were once heralded as a blessing for national development, but for relocated families they have brought only dispossession and suffering. Instead of schools, clinics, jobs and clean water, these communities have faced evictions, militarisation, and broken promises,” he said.
Nyarota stressed that women have carried the greatest burden, walking long distances for water, surviving violence, and raising families in poverty while billions in diamond wealth enrich elites.
He called for transparency in diamond marketing and accountability in resource governance, warning: “No mineral is more valuable than human dignity. No wealth is worth the suffering of communities.”
In his solidarity speech, Franklin Mukwaira, NANGO Eastern Region Coordinator, hailed rural women as “the heartbeat of our communities” and urged collective efforts to dismantle systemic challenges.
“Empowering rural women is not merely an option; it is essential for building resilient communities, achieving gender equality, and ensuring inclusive development,” he said.
Mukwaira pledged NANGO’s commitment to advocate for women’s access to land, markets, leadership opportunities, and skills development initiatives.
Other organisations in attendance included the Zimbabwe Gender Commission, Ministry of Youth, Manica Youth Assembly, Environmental Management Agency, Victim Friendly Unit, Ministry of Health, Family Support Trust, Zimbabwe Diabetes Association, Nzeve Deaf Centre, and Nyaradzo Group.
Entertainment was provided by Mai Problem and the Jekenisheni Church, adding a cultural flair to the programme.
The Rural Women Engagement Forum, according to organisers, will continue as a space to raise awareness, empower women, and build sustainable futures.