A media engagement meeting in Harare underscored the critical role of media as an ally in gender equality and women’s empowerment, emphasizing its function in holding governments accountable for their commitments to these rights. Organized by Gender and Media Connect (Zimbabwe), UN Women, the Women’s Coalition of Zimbabwe, and the Women in Politics Support Unit WiPSU, the event brought together media practitioners, women’s civil society organizations, and government agencies to reflect on gender equality priorities in Zimbabwe ahead of the Beijing +30 anniversary in 2025.
The year 2025 marks a pivotal moment to revisit the commitments made in the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action, signed 30 years ago. The media was urged to take up “The Beijing Story” to fulfill its accountability role. Abigail Matsvayi, Director of the Zimbabwe Women Lawyers’ Association (ZWLA), highlighted the persistent gap between legal protections and everyday realities in achieving gender equality. WiPSU Director Sakhile Sifelani Ngoma criticized the media for limiting women’s participation in its reporting and addressed the ongoing issue of unchecked sexism in Zimbabwe.
The media sector was encouraged to foster a culture of accountability by promoting rights guaranteed in national and international laws and conventions. GMC Director Patience Zirima pointed out that women comprise only 27% of registered media practitioners in Zimbabwe, calling for more efforts to promote gender equality in the media. Zirima also noted the challenges posed by technological advancements, particularly the unregulated rise of AI, which could exacerbate inequalities due to the gender digital divide.
Participants emphasized the importance of building trust between the media and women’s organizations. Civil society organizations (CSOs) were encouraged to collaborate with the media to ensure informed and accurate coverage, while the media was urged to uphold professional and ethical standards in their reporting.
