Special Populations

As the ZPT, we are aware of the importance of developing people-sensitive programming strategies. In light of this, three important categories of people in our communities will be given careful consideration. These are women, children and people with disability.

Children and youth in Zimbabwe have not been spared from the effects of the protracted conflicts afflicting Zimbabwe. Any sustainable peacebuilding initiative must ensure the mainstreaming of the interests of children and youth. The youth in Africa constitute a significant portion of over sixty per cent (60%) of the overall population on the continent (United Nations Development Programme 2017). The African continent is referred to as a growing population because of the high number of the youthful population. However, the UNDP (2017) noted that “the continent remains stubbornly inhospitable – politically, economically, and socially – to young people”.

According to the population census in 2012 in Zimbabwe, the combined population of youth and children in the country stands at around 77% of the nearly 14 million people in the country (Zimbabwe Statistical Agency 2012). The African Economic Outlook (2012) and Africa Renewal (2018) all raised concern about the lack of opportunities for the youth on the continent.

According to the Zimbabwe Statistical Agency (2012) women in Zimbabwe constitute about 52% of the country’s constitution. Although they are the majority, the long history of patriarchal dominance and general exclusion in social, political and economic development has meant that women are regarded as a special population requiring special attention. Although the inclusion of women in peacebuilding processes has gained momentum in policy discussions over the last 15 years, the number of women in decision-making positions remains relatively small.

Peacebuilding is the foundation for creating sustainable human security and equitable development in countries emerging from conflict. UNSC resolution 1325 recognises that women are disproportionally affected by conflict, and to address this, women should play a key role in achieving lasting peace after conflict.

A major challenge is that women are often not perceived to have the skills, knowledge or social status needed to bring about change in post-conflict environments. Changing this requires a mind-shift by negotiators and mediators on how they view the role of women. The integration of women in key post-conflict processes can take various forms. The ZPT will strive to ensure gender parity and equity in all its programming.

Definitions of disability vary, but broadly speaking people with disabilities are those who are not able to participate fully in society due to a combination of an underlying health condition or impairment and unfavourable social or environmental factors. ZPT aspires to create inclusive peacebuilding processes. Zimbabwe’s disability prevalence is 9 percent and it is high amongst females (10 percent) as compared to males (8 percent). Manicaland and Mashonaland Central provinces have the highest prevalence of 13 percent while Matabeleland North and Matabeleland South have the lowest rates (4 percent), (Zimbabwe ICDS 2017). This is a significant fraction of Zimbabwe’s population which cannot be ignored in any key decision-making process that include national dialogue process.

Inclusive participation in governance processes remains questionable in Zimbabwe particularly with regards to marginalized groups such as people with disabilities and children with disabilities. Often, they are left out or less represented in key decision-making processes that affect their lives. Although there is some form of legislative framework to support people with disabilities (Disabled Persons Act, Constitution, Children’s Act, Mental Health Act etc.), these have glaring shortcomings when it comes to the realization of the rights of PWDs. Although there are existing institutions with specific responsibility towards promotion and protection of the rights and welfare of PWDs, such as Ministry of Labor, National Disability Board, and the courts to address the marginalization of PWDs in Zimbabwe, the reality is PWD continue to suffer exclusion. This exclusion is exacerbated by the poor state of the political and economic situation faced by most Zimbabweans, as PWDs suffer more human rights violations in comparison to their non-disabled counterparts. In particular, women and children with disabilities suffer more human rights violations due to the existing structural vulnerabilities mainly cultural and economic. Women with disabilities are victims of double marginalization, first as women and secondly as persons with disabilities.