Zimbabwean women bear the brunt of climate change impacts, UN Women report reveals

A UN Women regional report, covering Zimbabwe, Malawi, and Mozambique, highlights how climate disasters are worsening poverty and inequality, particularly for women in Zimbabwe. Women, who constitute over 60% of the agricultural workforce and produce most of the food in rural areas, face significant challenges when floods destroy crops or droughts dry the soil, leading to loss of income and food. Cultural norms often dictate that women eat last and least during food scarcity. The report also notes that only 13% of women in Sub-Saharan Africa own land, compared to 36% of men, which limits women's access to loans, compensation, or government support after disasters in Zimbabwe. In areas like Runyararo settlement in Chimanimani, women relocated after Cyclone Idai, such as Chipo Dhliwayo and Chipo Mahembe, describe ongoing struggles with food scarcity and lack of stable employment. Climate change has also made daily tasks like fetching water and firewood more arduous and dangerous, leading to girls being pulled from school and increased instances of early marriage. The UN Women report warns that gender-based violence rises during disasters, and women's safety is often overlooked in emergency planning. Furthermore, early warning systems frequently fail women due to male-dominated communication channels. UN Women and other humanitarian groups advocate for solutions that prioritize women in climate action, including direct early warning systems, climate-smart agriculture, secure lan