As part of mainstreaming peace building within the current fight against COVID 19, a Community Accountability Action Team (CAAT) established by women working with Heal Zimbabwe in Zaka Ward 19 distributed washable masks branded with peace messages at a Pfumvudza Agricultural Inputs distribution meeting at Jerera Growth on 30 September 2020.
The CAAT distributed a total of 150 face masks to community members and duty bearers who had gathered to receive Pfumvudza Agricultural Inputs. Speaking on the sidelines of the distribution exercise, CAAT Chairperson Rosemary Mubariri highlighted that the initiative to distribute the masks was informed by the need to ensure that diverse community members remain conscious on the importance of promoting peaceful coexistence and human rights during the COVID-19 pandemic. “As women in Ward 19, we strategically saw an opportunity to raise awareness on waging a peaceful fight against COVID-19 as people receive their Pfumvudza inputs. It is important that we unite people from different political and economic backgrounds, and work together collaboratively just the same way we are fighting COVID-19 as a nation. Besides distributing masks, we also use Whatsapp platforms and text messages to raise awareness in Zaka on COVID-19 as well as creating virtual platforms for duty bearers and rights holders to dialogue,” she said.
Besides raising awareness on COVID 19, the CAAT also runs a nutritious garden for women in Zaka Ward 19 which provides local women with a sustainable alternative income to male controlled household income and a physical safe space for women and girls to discuss issues affecting themselves free from interference by men. This garden was created as a product of a community dialogue to address the causes of a spike in sexual and gender based violence in Ward 19. The garden currently benefits 47 women drawn from different socio-economic and political backgrounds in Ward 19 and Ward 18.
A CAAT is a group of 25 women and youths from diverse political and socio-economic backgrounds working together to build peace and demand social accountability from duty bearers. CAAT members were trained in conflict mediation, governance and social accountability.
Source: Heal Zimbabwe Trust
