Minister of Women’s Affairs,Community, Small and Medium Business Development Honourable Monica Speaking during the WLSA 5th AGM
On the November 17 Women and Law in Southern Africa – Zimbabwe held its 5th Annual General Meeting in Harare. The event was graced by the special Guest of Honour, Minister of Women Affairs,Community, Small and Medium Enterprises Honorable Minister Monica Mutsvangwa.
Speaking at the event, Minister Monica Mutsvangwa said her ministry was in the process of lobbying Parliament and relevant government stakeholders to implement safer market spaces to cater to women in the informal sector.
Key Highlights from the Annual General Meeting Report
- During the year WLSA trained 75 Paralegals in Murehwa,Chipinge, Marange
- WLSA handled 7254 legal cases during the year (86.8% females and 13.2% males.) of 88% of those assisted directly by WLSA received favourable outcomes for their cases.
- WLSA operated help desks at magistrates‟ courts around the country, offering legal services to 7254 people (86.8% of whom were women)
- 3 women led farmers groups comprising of 15 women only from Makoni, Murewa and Mutare rural districts respectively were supported with three labour saving technologies in the form of (3) earth augers by WLSA.
- 98 ISAL group leaders from Makoni, Murewa and Mutare rural received capacity building on access to financial services
- WLSA-Zimbabwe conducted awareness arising sessions in Hwange on socio-economic and environmental impacts of mining and GBV reaching 4403 clients, including 3949 females and 454 males in Hwange .
- 1 regional training /law clinic on Electoral Litigation and Elections Observation-was held using the Hybrid method were selected lawyers attended the training physically in Harare-Zimbabwe while others joined via Zoom, Facebook and X virtual platforms.
- WLSA facilitated the accreditation of 200 local and 5 regional observers
- The accredited regional and local observers were trained on election observation in Zimbabwe
- WLSA filed 2 electoral litigation cases on Constitutional Court case on Nomination fees representing Linda Masarira and others and on High court application on the Statutory Instrument 114 which sought to “correct” what parliament called a “mistake”