The march, co-hosted by the Delegation of the European Union to Zimbabwe, the United Nations Entity for Gender Equality and the Empowerment of Women (UN Women), and the Ministry of Women Affairs, Community, and Small and Medium Enterprise Development, began at the Harare International Conference Centre (HICC) and concluded at Town House, the seat of the Mayor of Harare. The symbolic route highlighted the importance of collective responsibility—ranging from community members to government—in addressing GBV and fostering a safer, more equitable society.

The Minister of Women Affairs, Community, Small and Medium Enterprises Development, Honourable Senator Monica Mutsvangwa, graced the event as the Guest of Honour. In her remarks, she reaffirmed the Government of Zimbabwe’s unwavering commitment to advancing gender equality and eradicating GBV.

 “In 2021, the Government of Zimbabwe committed itself to end GBV by officially launching the first-ever High-Level Political Compact (HLPC) on Ending Gender-Based Violence and Harmful Practices (2021-2030) which was signed and launched by His Excellency the President, Dr. Emmerson Dambudzo Mnangagwa together with other development partners as a demonstration of political commitment to eliminate violence against women and girls in Zimbabwe,” said Hon. Minister Mutsvangwa.

“Several administrative and programmatic measures have also been put in place which include the Establishment of Community-based shelters and One-stop centres for the provision of multi-sectoral GBV services in remote and hard-to-reach areas,” she added.

A key highlight of the event was the handover of the co-chairmanship of the HeForShe initiative by the EU Ambassador to Zimbabwe, His Excellency Jobst von Kirchmann, to the Canadian Ambassador to Zimbabwe, His Excellency Adler Aristilde. The HeForShe initiative, a global solidarity movement led by UN Women, continues to galvanize individuals, institutions, and nations worldwide to stand together for gender equality. This leadership transition signals a renewed and strengthened commitment to inclusive action in Zimbabwe.

In his handover speech, Ambassador von Kirchmann underscored the EU’s dedication to fostering partnerships that promote the safety and empowerment of women and girls.

Speaking at the march, H.E Jobst von Kirchmann, EU Ambassador stressed “Ending gender-based violence is a collective responsibility that calls on all of us—women and men, young and old—to stand together in solidarity. Team Europe is proud to collaborate with the Government of Zimbabwe, UN Women, and partners from all sectors to strengthen these efforts and create a society where women and girls can live free from fear, violence, and discrimination.”

At the ceremony UN Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator H.E Edward Kallon expressed gratitude to all partners and participants for their unwavering commitment. Speaking about the march he added, “Today, we gather with a shared purpose and a united voice to stand against gender-based violence. This march is a powerful statement of our collective commitment to gender equality and the empowerment of women and girls in Zimbabwe.”

Taking up the leadership role, Ambassador Aristilde expressed Canada’s readiness to champion the HeForShe initiative and build upon the strong foundation laid by the EU.

The event also received robust support from Team Europe, with representatives from the Spanish, Swedish, Italian, Dutch, Portuguese, German and Greek embassies joining the march. Gender Equality and women’s empowerment is a shared priority for both Team Europe and Zimbabwe. 

Collectively, Team Europe is contributing over USD 300M towards gender equality and women’s empowerment over the period 2021-2027.

The solidarity march forms part of ongoing efforts to raise awareness of GBV and strengthen partnerships among government, international organizations, and civil society. The Ministry of Women Affairs, Community, Small and Medium Enterprises Development, together with UN Women, and Team Europe, continue to spearhead initiatives aimed at achieving gender equality and creating a future free from violence.