About Women's Democracy Network

Women’s Democracy Network (WDN) is a registered not for profit membership-based women’s rights organization empowering women to lead through promoting women’s participation in governance processes and gender responsive policy making in Zimbabwe.

Our composition

The network membership consist of women aged 18 years and above, women leaders and aspiring leaders from political parties, local government , parliament, independent commissions, civic society organizations, faith based organizations, business sector, academia, youth and student movements, trade unions, arts and culture, media  and traditional leadership sectors.

Our Commitment to Democracy & Good Governance in Zimbabwe

We committed ourselves and are establishing a network of women to promote women’s participation in leadership, elections, politics and governance processes in Zimbabwe

Committing, to advance democracy and good governance;  

Recognizing the need to ensure state and non-state actors’ adherence to the Constitution of Zimbabwe, regional and international instruments’ provisions on women’s rights, gender equality and women’s equal and full participation in politics and governance decision making processes; 

 

 

Acknowledging the existence of and the need to tap into regional and international networks to promote women’s inclusion, equal and full participation in politics, democracy and governance processes. 

Recognizing the need to promote and build local networks among women in their diversity, civil society organizations, trade unions, youth movements, political parties, social movements and faith-based institutions and the importance of networking and solidarity among women.

 

 

Prioritizing the importance of establishment of a knowledge base to inform and support inclusive present and future democratic governance. 

 

 

Believing that the future of Zimbabwe lies in women’s equal representation and full participation in democracy and governance processes. 

Reaffirming our commitment to defending and upholding women’s rights.

 

 

Determined to unite and work towards promoting democracy and good governance for gender equity and equality,

Our ethos

Our aim

To promote women’s participation in governance processes through equipping them with knowledge, skills and support for civic engagement, public participation, participation in election processes, political leadership and accountability.

Our vision

An empowered network of women influencing and promoting democracy and good governance for gender equity and equality

Our mission

To build and support a movement of women political leaders that promote democracy, good governance and gender responsive policy making
  1. To build a movement of women that promotes democracy and good governance.
  2. To enhance women’s participation in politics, elections, peace building and governance
  3. To research, document and preserve knowledge on women’s participation in democracy and governance processes.
  4. To provide spaces for women to grow their knowledge, skills and networks on democracy, peace building and governance for effective participation.

WDN-ZW is committed to the following fundamental principles which members are required to abide by and practice:

  1. Participatory democracy including free and fair elections of leadership and accountability to membership, partners and stakeholders.
  2. Human rights as affirmed in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.
  3. Transparency in decision-making, the allocation of  resources, communication of decisions and in all financial matters with the concomitant need to declare conflicts of interest, real and potential.
  4. Partnerships, to working collaboratively with other institutions and networks in pursuit of democracy and good governance.
  5. Non-discrimination on the basis of gender, language, culture, ethnicity, nationality, sexual orientation, religious belief, age and disability.
  6. Respect for diversity and co-existence but recognizing the need to challenge Harmful practices that conflict with fundamental human rights.
  7. Recognizing and affirming different forms of knowledge, including traditional and indigenous knowledge.
  8. Working in the best interests of WDN-Zimbabwe as a whole and the pursuit of its vision and strategic objectives rather than individual interests.

In the quest to realize its aims and objectives and to fulfil its mission, WDN-Zimbabwe is guided by the following values: 

  1. Participation 
  2. Accountability 
  3. Transparency 
  4. Solidarity 
  5. Equality
  6. Integrity