The Southern African Development Community (SADC) Ministers responsible for Gender and Women’s Affairs convened in Harare, Zimbabwe, to reaffirm their unified commitment to advancing gender equality, combating Gender-Based Violence (GBV), and promoting the empowerment of women.
During the meeting, the Ministers reviewed progress made and deliberated on strategic interventions aligned with the Revised SADC Protocol on Gender and Development, underscoring the importance of sustained and coordinated efforts to achieve gender parity and uphold the rights and dignity of all women and girls.
The Ministers emphasised the urgent need to address persistent challenges affecting women and girls, including GBV, restricted access to economic opportunities, underrepresentation in political and decision-making positions, and the increasing vulnerability to HIV infection, particularly among adolescent girls and young women.
Honourable Senator Monica Mutsvangwa, Minister of Women Affairs, Community, Small and Medium Enterprises Development of Zimbabwe and Chairperson of SADC Ministers Responsible for Gender and Women’s Affairs, highlighted notable achievements in the region’s gender agenda. She acknowledged that while progress has been made, considerable work remains, noting that no African country has fully met its gender equality targets. She urged SADC Member States to commit resources, time, and dedication to achieve broader societal goals, including economic growth, improved health outcomes, and the fulfillment of human rights for all.
Minister Mutsvangwa called on Member States to intensify efforts to economically empower women, enhance their participation in governance, provide financial support, and ensure access to leadership opportunities. In accordance with the SADC Strategy and Framework of Action for Addressing GBV (2018-2030), she underscored the importance of addressing GBV and the systemic inequalities that impede the development and well-being of women, and to effectively engage men and boys in all efforts. She further emphasised the need for Member States to ratify the recently adopted African Union Convention on the Elimination of Violence Against Women and Girls and to also strengthen implementation of the Women, Peace and Security Agenda at national level.
Dr. Judith Kateera, SADC Deputy Executive Secretary for Corporate Affairs, reaffirmed the region’s strong commitment to gender equality as outlined in the SADC Treaty, the Revised Regional Indicative Strategic Development Plan (RISDP) 2020–2030, and SADC Vision 2050. She emphasised that gender equality must become a tangible reality for all citizens of the region.
Among other priorities, Dr. Kateera urged Member States to strengthen the implementation and financing of GBV prevention programmes by tackling the root causes of violence. She commended ongoing initiatives to promote women’s entrepreneurship and leadership through the implementation of the SADC Regional Multi-Dimensional Women’s Economic Empowerment Programme (RMD-WEEP). She encouraged further integration of such programmes into national legislation and policies.
The Ministers reviewed key policy documents and assessed the progress of gender-related programmes, providing a platform for coordinated strategic planning to ensure inclusive development and the achievement of gender equality across Member States. The Ministers further approved the new SADC Framework on Achieving Gender Parity in Politics and Decision-Making of 2025-2035 and the Report of the Mid-Term Review of the SADC Strategy and Framework of Action for Addressing GBV.
The Ministers called for enhanced regional cooperation in areas including women’s meaningful participation in peace and security processes; promotion of gender parity in political and leadership roles; strengthening women’s economic resilience and engagement; mainstreaming gender across all sectors; improving monitoring and evaluation mechanisms for the SADC Protocol on Gender and Development; and expanding effective and targeted measures to prevent Gender-Based Violence.
The Ministers further reaffirmed their shared responsibility to drive transformative action, ensuring that gender equality and women’s empowerment remain central to the region’s sustainable development and integration agenda.
The meeting was also attended by representatives from United Nations agencies, Civil Society Organizations, development partners, members of the Diplomatic Corps, and Members of Parliament from the Republic of Zimbabwe.
This Ministerial session was preceded by the meeting of SADC Senior Officials Responsible for Gender and Women’s Affairs, held from 24 to 25 June 2025.
