The future of the Zimbabwe Gender Commission (ZGC) hangs in the balance following proposals in the Constitution of Zimbabwe Amendment Bill (No.3) of 2026 to abolish the Commission and transfer its functions to the Zimbabwe Human Rights Commission (ZHRC).
Clause 17 of the Bill seeks to repeal Part 4 of Chapter 12 of the Constitution, which establishes the ZGC, arguing that its functions can be subsumed under the ZHRC “since the latter is already mandated to protect all human rights.”
Clause 18 proposes inserting the ZGC’s functions into the ZHRC framework.
The move has sparked debate, particularly as the ZGC’s 2024 Annual Report, now finalised and submitted in Parliament, highlights what lawmakers describe as tangible progress despite chronic underfunding.
Established under Section 246 of the Constitution and operationalised by the Zimbabwe Gender Commission Act, the ZGC’s mandate includes monitoring gender equality, investigating violations, receiving public complaints, conducting research, advising institutions and recommending prosecution in cases involving gender rights abuses.
In its 2024 report, the Commission reaffirmed its constitutional obligations, stating that “its main role is to promote and advance gender equality and ensure that women and men, girls and boys are treated fairly and have equal opportunities in all areas of life.”
In compliance with Section 323 of the Constitution, the ZGC has consistently submitted annual reports to Parliament since 2016, reflecting what it describes as “commitment to transparency, accountability and constitutional compliance.”
Central to its 2024 performance was the handling of complaints and investigations into gender-based violations in accordance with Section 246(b) and (c) of the Constitution.
Key investigations included cases of gender-based discrimination at National Handling Services, Chivhu School of Nursing and Bata Shoe Company.
The Commission also conducted targeted research in border towns, exposing harassment and extortion of women cross-border traders by officials.
During the year under review in 2024, the Commission received and handled 2 610 complaints through its toll-free call centre, walk-ins, social media and Mobile One Stop Centres, with the majority related to divorce and maintenance disputes.
It rolled out 15 Mobile One Stop Centres across three provinces, reaching 2 308 survivors of gender-based violence (GBV) with integrated services.
Under its oversight mandate, the ZGC conducted a gender audit of political parties represented in Parliament, recommending the development of internal gender policies.
It issued advisory notes highlighting gender imbalances in board appointments, discriminatory maternity provisions and bullying in schools, while also commending institutions that demonstrated progress in promoting equality.
The Commission hosted the 2024 National Gender Forum under the theme “Gender, Environment and Climate Change: Building Resilience and Sustainability through Gender Equality,” reaching over 2 500 participants nationwide.
ZGC stated the forums underscored the disproportionate impact of climate change on women and called for gender-responsive environmental policies.
Research initiatives included a national study on violence against women in politics, which found that such violence remains pervasive and requires structured intra-party reporting mechanisms.
A rapid gender assessment of floods in Budiriro and Kuwadzana revealed that disasters affect men and women differently, recommending gender-responsive disaster management and stricter enforcement of wetland protection laws.
The Commission intensified public education efforts, conducting gender sensitisation and sexual harassment training in public and private institutions.
It hosted the inaugural Male Engagement Symposium in Mutare, attended by over 1 200 men and boys, discussing mental health, GBV and positive masculinity.
Community dialogues and awareness campaigns on child marriages, climate change and drug abuse reached thousands more.
The ZGC also maintained visibility at national commemorations and exhibitions, including the Zimbabwe International Trade Fair and the Zimbabwe Agricultural Show.
Despite fiscal constraints, the Commission expanded its footprint and acquired a permanent headquarters, the “House of Gender Equality” maintained a full complement of nine commissioners and 118 staff members out of an approved 213, with near equal gender representation at a 54:46 female-to-male ratio.
It established four new provincial offices, acquired 14 operational vehicles and achieved an 89 percent budget expenditure performance under the IPSAS framework.
However, the report lists limited financial resources and delayed Treasury disbursements as key challenges hindering full national coverage and programme implementation.
Persistent GBV, child marriages, structural political barriers and limited gender-disaggregated data also remain obstacles.
Debating the report in Parliament, MPs acknowledged the ZGC’s impact.
Mashonaland West MP, Mutsawashe Carl Ziyambi, said it was “encouraging to note that the Zimbabwe Gender Commission has been executing its oversight role with tangible results.”
“The (2024) report indicates that both male and female students in tertiary institutions have received gender sensitisation and sexual harassment training. This shows that GBV is not a woman’s issue alone but a societal issue requiring the engagement of our young men as well.” he said.
Ziyambi added that the Commission’s work influences policy formulation in institutions such as the Ministry of Higher and Tertiary Education and the Public Service Commission.
Chikanga Constituency MP, Lynette Karenyi, raised concerns about funding.
“Against a budget ceiling of ZiG84 877.89, the Commission only received ZiG77 066,” she noted.
“The Commission continues to be underfunded, especially in 2025, where it received about 34 percent of its allocated funds.”
Karenyi said delayed Treasury releases create a misleading impression of rushed spending in the last quarter.
“The greatest threat to the Zimbabwe Gender Commission’s work is not its existence but the untimely release of funds from the Central Government,” she said.
“The Constitution deliberately created a dedicated Gender Commission to ensure focused attention on the systematic barriers faced by women, men and children. Maintaining this vision remains critical.”
She warned that without political will and adequate funding, recommendations risk remaining “paperwork rather than real change.”
Meanwhile, the Amendment Bill’s proposal to fold the ZGC into the ZHRC raises questions about whether gender equality issues will receive the same focused attention within a broader human rights mandate.
Supporters of the Amendment Bill’s, argue that consolidation avoids duplication and streamlines oversight, however critics counter that gender equality requires specialised expertise and dedicated institutional focus.
In an interview with CITE, Bulawayo North MP, Minenhle Gumede said, looking at the ZGC’s 2024 recommendations, such as lobbying for a Gender Equality Bill, criminalising sexual harassment, decentralising GBV services and strengthening accountability of political parties, suggest an ambitious agenda that could be diluted under a broader human rights framework.
“The Commission’s 2024 report offers a snapshot of an institution striving to deliver constitutional oversight despite resource limitations. Whether those functions will continue within a consolidated human rights structure is yet to be seen because whatever happens may shape the trajectory of gender justice in Zimbabwe for years to come,” she said.
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