By Nyasha Dube – Community Based Mobilisers (CBMs) from Shurugwi say society is warming up to the idea that women can independently own land.
They were speaking at a two day workshop in Gweru facilitated by Konrad Adenauer Stiftung Zimbabwe in partnership with Meluct and Self Help Development Foundation recently.
The CBMs who included women and youth from different wards in Shurugwi were being trained on how to relay information on women’s rights to land ownership, and make impact in their respective communities.
They were also taught on how to use media and social media tools in light of the COVID-19 pandemic which saw most communication moving to online platforms.
Speaking at the sidelines of the workshop, some of the women and youth said communities are starting to accept the fact that women can own their own land and properties.
Shamiso Tiger from Tongogara district said she will continue educating communities and traditional leaders on the importance of empowering women through land ownership.
“We will keep on educating chiefs, councillors and everyone else who is yet to accept that women are equally important as their male counterparts and can also own asserts,” she said.
Miriam Menyani from Shurugwi Ward 24 said such programs have contributed a lot to community development.
“As a young woman I urge my peers to acquire their own land so they can have collateral and access financial loans. As CBMs we are always available to help women and girls navigate around the challenges they are facing. Some are child headed families that were left with nothing when their parents passed on as such there’s need to understand the legal frameworks governing issues of land ownership,” said Menyani.
Another CBM Revai Masusela also gave her testimonial on how she got to acquire her own land with the help of traditional leaders.
“My husband inherited land from his parents and according to culture he is not allowed to move elsewhere. I realized that in case something happens I might be kicked out and be left homeless so I sought my own piece of land. My husband and in-laws resisted at first but later on came to terms with it. Now I can independently fend for my family,” she said.
Youths said some women are yet to fully embrace their rights and privileges to own land, and appealed for relavant authorities to deal away with corruption and emotional blackmail which women are subjected to when seeking land.
The African culture, because of its patriachal nature, has always defined women as minors who are not legible to own asserts, however there has been a paradigm shift as women are being empowered.
Legislations like the Constitution of Zimbabwe are also changing the narrative, as everyone now has the right to procure and hold all forms of property and land regardless of sex, gender and marital status.
Most women in Zimbabwe have access to land through marriage and inheritance from late spouse or relatives, hence they remain with weaker property rights mostly because of unregistered marriages.
In this regard, legal expert Debra Shiri urged women to legally register their marriages.
“In cases where one’s husband passes on, relatives are often not keen to confirm in court that they know the wife and the woman might end up giving up and going back to he martenal home. A marriage certificate, however, is easy confirmation that one was really married to the deceased,” said Shiri.
She also highlighted gaps in the implementation of legislations like the Marriage law and Inheritance law, and called for leaders to ensure access to justice for all.
“Courts must be easily accessible and court fees must be affordable so that women get justice. Cultural norms also come into play. Women who want land ownership are often seen as a challenge to their husband as such men need to be taught on the importance of joint ownership so that women also have security,” Lawyer Shiri said.
Traditional leaders also said they welcome this move and vowed to continue training fellow community leaders on women’s land rights.
“In the meantime we are not training as many traditional leaders as we would want because if resource constraints and the COVID-19 pandemic, but we continue lobbying for resources to advocate for this good cause,” said Chief Mufiri from Shurugwi.
He added that patriarchy is still a major challenge in communities.
“Patriarchy has become a norm and women were always seen as perpetual minors. However times are evolving and the Constitution of Zimbabwe speaks to equality in land and ownership rights. We will continue working tirelessly to change the narrative and create empowered communities,” he said.
Youths were also cautioned to learn cultural dynamics so they are fully equipped with knowledge when championing women’s land rights in their communities.