The 2013 constitutional reform and the protection of women’s rights in Zimbabwe

Abstract

Zimbabwe adopted a new Constitution in 2013 to replace the gender insensitive Lancaster House Constitution of 1979. This article largely relies on extant literature to analyze the adequacy of the 2013 Constitution in advancing women’s rights and needs. The study shows that the 2013 Constitution contains an elaborated Declaration of Rights that protects women against the major challenges they face in society, including exclusion in public life, vulnerability to abuse, violence and harmful practices. It also speaks to women’s access to quality and affordable health, capital and employment opportunities. Courtesy of the 2013 Constitution, women in Zimbabwe have equal rights and opportunities as men in relation to guardianship of children. Although some gender provisions in the Constitution lack conceptual clarity and the government is showing limited political will for constitutionalism, the 2013 Constitution of Zimbabwe has been found to be a progressive instrument poised to ensure for the recognition, inclusion, equality and protection of women as equal human beings in society.