Ruramai was married young, at 15. The age of sexual consent in Zimbabwe is 16. When she got married, her now late husband, Simbarashe, was a self-employed cross-border trader who spent most of his time travelling to faraway places such as Dar-es-Salam, Lusaka, Gaborone and Johannesburg to buy clothing for resale back home. This is [...]

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As I sat as an observer among community members of Epworth, a satellite town about 15 kilometres east of Harare, discussing gender and sexual and reproductive health rights issues among women and girls, I was surprised by what I heard as the discussion about gender went on. One major interesting topic was that about family [...]

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Today, 25th November, is the International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women. These Fast Facts come from this report. Read more about the UNiTE to End Violence against Women campaign here.

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My 71 year old grandfather is now a king. He can no longer go to work as we are now taking care of him. Seated at our rural home he now enjoys the benefits of bearing us. Everyone in the family sends him a monthly parcel of goodies, including food and medication.  He is an [...]

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My parents always presented education to us as the only way out of poverty. They even sold their valuables such as goats, sheep and cattle for us to go to school.  At times my mother would brew beer and sell it just so I could get an education.  They hoped that one day I would [...]

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There has been grave confusion over the scrapping of maternity fees, one report I read in July claimed the Ministry of Health had sent letters to hospitals and clinics stating fees are dropped, but the Herald reported in September that the Minister of Health claims this is not true.  Whatever the case is, government continues [...]

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Please please join together on Friday 23 November 2012 at 12 noon. Just stop what you are doing wherever you are at that time and say a prayer for rain, especially for the parched Matabeleland and Midlands regions. There is power in prayer. Let's unite. God bless Zimbabwe. Prayer For Rain by lilyg Oh, that [...]

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Via AfriForum Press Release:  The campaign to restore the rule of law in Zimbabwe and to reinstate the international court of the SADC Tribunal after its suspension by the SADC Heads of State in August 2011 has seen an important breakthrough. The African Commission today ruled that the complaint lodged with it on behalf of [...]

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I think twice whenever I plan to have a journey out of the city centre. Although my vehicle is fully licensed in accordance with the country's road regulations, I still fear to travel. Despite having a spare wheel, wheel spanner, jack and fire extinguisher the police will still find fault with my car. What worries [...]

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Via Veritas COPAC Select Committee Report on the Conference After preparatory work by rapporteurs and COPAC staff and the co-chairs and a preliminary meeting, the Select Committee met on 5th and 6th November to finalise its report on the Conference.  Completion of the report was announced at a press briefing on the morning of 7th [...]

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