Matabeleland remains under developed due to migration

The high rate of migration of people, especially men in Matabeleland region, to the neighboring countries in search of greener pastures has largely impacted on development.

Matabeleland South, which is believed to have more people leaving their families to the neighboring countries such as Botswana and South Africa has remained under developed. As a result of migration, most households are now headed by women, who have little control over resources.

Some cultural practices that inhibit women from effectively participating in major development and decision making processes still exists in the region thus leaving the decision-making powers to a handful of men.

Investigations show that women in most rural parts of Matabeleland are still not given equal opportunities to participate in decision making as there are areas were women are not allowed to address a gathering where there are traditional leaders.

In most instances, women are usually the majority in community meetings but they do not elect each other on leadership positions even on committees or issues that directly affect them largely because of the discriminatory practices that still exists in societies.

The discrimination goes down to household level where women lack control over resources in their household such as cattle and the fields.

Women are denied certain rights enjoyed by their male counterparts even though Section 17 of the Constitution states that women must have access to resources, including land, on basis of equality with men.

Women are not allowed to sell cattle without permission from a male figure yet most men are outside the country making it difficult for them to cover some of the expenses which include paying school fees for their children.

Some of the families live in abject poverty not because they don't have resources but because they have to wait for a man to have a final decision on how these resources should be disposed.  Gender imbalances and migration of men in Matabeleland region has significantly contributed to underdevelopment.

To ensure Zimbabwe is free from gender oppression and inequality, local leaders should come up with gender sensitive initiatives which include refreshing development structures to include women, awareness campaigns on the rights of both women, deliberate quota systems to put women in leadership and working with other stakeholders towards overall gender mainstreaming of development projects.