Tanzania, Zimbabwe unite against GBV, promote clean cooking
HARARE: TANZANIA and Zimbabwe have discussed ways to strengthen cooperation in several strategic areas, including women’s empowerment, community development, small and medium-sized enterprises, clean energy and efforts to combat gender-based violence (GBV).
The discussions were held in Harare between Tanzania’s High Commissioner to Zimbabwe, Suzan Kaganda, and Zimbabwe’s Minister of Women’s Affairs, Community Development, Small and Medium Enterprises Development, Monica Mutsvangwa, at the ministry’s offices.
Minister Mutsvangwa said the relationship between Tanzania and Zimbabwe was rooted in a shared history of the liberation struggle in Southern Africa, which involved the founding leaders of the two countries, the late Mwalimu Julius K. Nyerere and the late Robert G. Mugabe.
She commended Tanzania for its contribution to Zimbabwe’s liberation struggle and for its continued efforts to preserve sites and documents that document the history of the liberation of Southern Africa.
Mutsvangwa also praised Tanzania’s efforts to promote the use of clean energy, saying Zimbabwe was ready to learn from and exchange experiences with Tanzania, particularly in addressing deforestation and environmental degradation.
For her part, Ambassador Kaganda said Tanzania was committed to building on its historic relationship with Zimbabwe by strengthening training programmes, exchanging expertise and experience, and promoting the establishment of joint programmes.
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She also stressed the importance of the two countries signing Memoranda of Understanding (MoUs) and agreements in strategic areas of mutual interest to provide a framework for practical and measurable cooperation.
On gender-based violence, Ambassador Kaganda commended the Zimbabwean Government for measures being taken to combat GBV, noting that Tanzania was also implementing a range of initiatives to address the problem.
She said Tanzania was implementing the Second National Plan to End Violence Against Women and Children, while improving integrated service centres and strengthening Gender Desks to provide services and protection to survivors of violence.
The meeting underscored the importance of cooperation-driven diplomacy among Southern African countries, with Tanzania and Zimbabwe seeking to build on their shared history to develop stronger partnerships focused on social, economic and environmental development.
