Hivos Southern Africa launched its Women Empowered for Leadership Programme (WE4L) in Zimbabwe on April 27, 2017 at its regional offices in Harare, Zimbabwe.  The launch was attended by women leaders from political, civil society and business sectors. Renowned Zimbabwean business woman Mrs Rudo Boka-Mutambanengwe was the key note speaker. 

In her remarks, Mrs. Boka-Mutambanengwe outlined the importance of women persevering against difficult odds in their pursuit of empowered and empowering leadership. 

Women leaders form political parties who included members of parliament and opposition political party leaders shared experiences of the key challenges that they have faced since entering into mainstream politics.  They also expressed optimism that working together women leaders can overcome these challenges.

Also speaking at the event, motivational speaker, Cynthia Hakutangwi, emphasized the importance of women leaders to carefully understand who they are and their career objectives when they enter into leadership terrains in their chosen professional fields. 

Speaking on gender and the media, journalist, Reyhana Masters, called upon the media to be much more gender friendly and give women leaders more space to freely express themselves.   

Hivos Southern Africa Regional Director, Tanja Lubbers, said that the objective of the WE4L is to support women’s participation in politics, public administration and civil society.  She paid tribute to the Dutch Ministry of Foreign Affairs for funding the programme that runs from 2016 until 2020.   

The launch was co-hosted by the following Hivos’ Zimbabwean partners: Women ‘s Coalition of Zimbabwe (WCOZ), Women in Politics Support Unit (WIPSU), Women in Leadership and Development (WILD), Media Monitors (MM) and Gender and Media Connect (GMC).