News / Local
Zim Women call for equal representation in budget formulation
06 Aug 2012 at 04:51hrs | Views
THE Zimbabwe Women Resource Centre and Network has called for equal representation and leveling of the playing field in national budget consultations and formulation.
Addressing participants at a Southern African Parliamentary Support Trust (SAPST) workshop for journalists at a local hotel on Friday, an official of the Zimbabwe Women Resource Centre and Network, Ms Lindiwe Ngwenya, said women should take part in national budget consultation and formulation.
"We have to adopt a gender responsive budgeting system which takes into consideration everyone, be it a woman, man, boy or a girl. Women do not have to wait for men to take decisions for them and as such should also take part in the budget consultations and formulation," said Ms Ngwenya.
She said by not taking part in the national budget consultation and formulation, women risked not being heard in matters that affected them.
Ms Ngwenya said men contributed to the discrimination of women by not fully involving them in national matters and decision making bodies.
"Men also perpetuate the discrimination of women by not involving them and taking decisions on their behalf on matters that affect them as well," said Ms Ngwenya.
She said the implementation of gender equality outcomes needed adequate financing so as to achieve their goals.
"The implementation of gender equality outcomes need adequate finances but we encourage both men and women to take part in a gender responsive budget process so as to make their voices heard," she said.
Ms Ngwenya also said by partaking in the budget formulation their needs could be met even though the stronger voice and weaker voice do not have equal say in budgeting decisions.
"By participating in the budget formulation we are guaranteed that our needs would be met.
"Even though the stronger voice and weaker voice do not have equal say in budgeting, we all know who the stronger voice belongs to so we should work to change that," said Ms Ngwenya.
She urged media houses to be gender sensitive when reporting, as they were public spheres where debate was usually stimulated.
Addressing participants at a Southern African Parliamentary Support Trust (SAPST) workshop for journalists at a local hotel on Friday, an official of the Zimbabwe Women Resource Centre and Network, Ms Lindiwe Ngwenya, said women should take part in national budget consultation and formulation.
"We have to adopt a gender responsive budgeting system which takes into consideration everyone, be it a woman, man, boy or a girl. Women do not have to wait for men to take decisions for them and as such should also take part in the budget consultations and formulation," said Ms Ngwenya.
She said by not taking part in the national budget consultation and formulation, women risked not being heard in matters that affected them.
Ms Ngwenya said men contributed to the discrimination of women by not fully involving them in national matters and decision making bodies.
"Men also perpetuate the discrimination of women by not involving them and taking decisions on their behalf on matters that affect them as well," said Ms Ngwenya.
She said the implementation of gender equality outcomes needed adequate financing so as to achieve their goals.
"The implementation of gender equality outcomes need adequate finances but we encourage both men and women to take part in a gender responsive budget process so as to make their voices heard," she said.
Ms Ngwenya also said by partaking in the budget formulation their needs could be met even though the stronger voice and weaker voice do not have equal say in budgeting decisions.
"By participating in the budget formulation we are guaranteed that our needs would be met.
"Even though the stronger voice and weaker voice do not have equal say in budgeting, we all know who the stronger voice belongs to so we should work to change that," said Ms Ngwenya.
She urged media houses to be gender sensitive when reporting, as they were public spheres where debate was usually stimulated.
Source - Chronicle
