Attorney-General Virginia Mabhiza has come under fire from civil society groups for defending the proposed abolition of the Zimbabwe Gender Commission (ZGC) and its integration into the Zimbabwe Human Rights Commission (ZHRC), a move critics say weakens dedicated gender protections.
Mabhiza maintains the reform is “lawful, efficient and forward-looking”, but organisations such as the Centre for Research and Development (CRD) and the Centre for Natural Resource Governance argue that it reverses hard-won gains.
CRD director James Mupfumi said a standalone commission was vital, particularly for vulnerable communities affected by extractive industries.
“From mining communities’ perspective, a standalone commission was critical in advancing the rights of vulnerable groups where laws remain archaic, exclusionary and gender-insensitive,” he said.
Centre for Natural Resource Governance director Farai Maguwu said ZGC was established to address entrenched gender inequalities.
“The commission was created out of the realisation that our society has deep-rooted gender inequality and social ills such as violence against women,” he said.
He warned that abolishing it signals regression.
“Removing ZGC suggests Zimbabwe is regressing to a society where women and girls have diminished rights,” Maguwu said.
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However, Mabhiza dismissed the concerns, insisting ZHRC already has a constitutional mandate to protect all human rights, including gender-related issues.
“The legal position is clear and constitutionally grounded. ZHRC is already mandated to carry out all functions currently performed by the Gender Commission,” she said.
She argued that the merger will eliminate duplication and improve efficiency, adding that gender rights remained central to the broader human rights framework.
ZHRC acknowledged potential benefits, including improved coordination and a more holistic approach to rights protection.
However, it cautioned that the move risks diluting focus on gender issues and can undermine public confidence among women’s groups and civil society organisations.
Mabhiza said the legislative process remained open to public input.
“Nothing in the Bill is cast in stone,” she said.
