UN Women Gender Peace and Security Project contributes to economic empowerment for conflict transformation in Zimbabwe

One beneficiary of the UN Women Zimbabwe gender Peace and Security programme, 35 year old Susan Matsunga (MDC T, national assembly) from Mufakose in Harare who attended all the UN Women 3 level trainings in Nyanga, Mutare and Kenya has been able to come up with an innovative initiative for her community bringing together women from 3 warring political parties namely ZANU PF, MDC T and MDC N. The Kenya workshop was facilitated by the African Centre for Transformative Leadership Kenyatta University, ACTIL.

The initiative involves using economic empowerment as a strategy for conflict transformation. After Level 1 Training Susan realised that despite their different political affiliations, women can actually come together for a better cause. She witnesses the changing dynamics at Level II when the different women from their different political divides started to relate to each other discussing issues to do with women’s empowerment regardless of their party lines. Following the same line of thought, she realised that her community which was politically divided, ridden with hate, enmity and accusations could actually be transformed bringing women together for a better cause. As women they could find common ground.

Susan began by bringing together women from support groups in her community whom she convinced to bring basic commodities from their homes for distribution to the sick and needy in this community during home visits. On February 13, 2014 she brought together women from the two wards in her community regardless of age, political affiliation, religions and backgrounds and briefed them of her idea that they start a women’s association for their community to help each other to deal with community challenges and also empower each other. The women agreed to contribute a dollar every Friday for a pool of money with which they would buy basic commodities for themselves and also for the needy. Susan then approached the Constituency Member of Parliament, Pauline Mupariwa (MDC T) and told her about the association. The MP found it to be a sustainable innovation to help build the community. In the following meetings, the MP donated 100 dollars and purchased a peanut butter making machine, 2 heavy duty sewing machines and a four plate stove for the women’s association.

The women are now using the donated machinery for their different projects which they do either individually or as groups. The women are involved in different projects which include baking, peanut butter making, sewing, lotion making, gardening and poultry production. The proceeds from these projects is also added to their weekly dollar contributions. When they conduct their weekly Friday meetings, they also share experiences and solutions to problems they encounter in their lives.

One woman testified that through these discussions she learnt how to diplomatically resolve her domestic disputes with her husband who used to come home drunk and beat her up. She can now calm him down and get disputes resolved peacefully. A number of women also confessed that they no longer quarrel with their spouses over money issues as they can also contribute to family income. This has reduced prevalence of conflicts in the home.

Through these different projects and the weekly meetings, women in Susan’s community are now better able to relate as women regardless of their different political affiliations. At their meetings, they do not talk about political issues and are not allowed to put on any political party regalia. Women now view each other as fellow project members not political enemies or as sell outs as was previously the case before Susan’s initiative.

The association took advantage of the day for distributing their groceries and called on many women’s organisations like the Women’s Trust, WiPSU, Musasa, different denominations and representatives from the 3 political parties to be a part of the event. This brought together women from different backgrounds for a common cause of helping the community. After this event, Susan was invited to be a panellist representing young women’s peace and security concerns at one event which was organised by the women’s Trust to promote peace-building in Zimbabwe. Susan has also been called upon by a national radio station Power FM to speak on the 16 days of Activism against Violence. This community economic empowerment initiative has opened up avenues for Susan to be involved in Gender Peace and Security issues even at national level.