social commentary:with Moses Mugugunyeki In September 1995, 25 years ago, people from all walks of life from across the globe converged in Beijing, China, for the fourth World Conference on Women. For them, it was an opportunity to usher the way forward with regard to gender equality and ending violence against women. After two weeks of deliberations, the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action, regarded as the most progressive blueprint ever for advancing women’s rights, was birthed. The Platform for Action made comprehensive commitments under 12 critical areas of concern, which member states, non-governmental organisations (NGOs) and other participants pledged to undertake in their respective jurisdictions. September 2020 marked the Silver Jubilee of the Beijing Platform for Action, a framework that has turned out to be a powerful source of guidance and inspiration for many nations, Zimbabwe included. Zimbabwe was one of the countries represented in Beijing and today 25 years on, it is among several nations that are mainstreaming the Beijing Platform for Action. While the global blueprint was under construction in Beijing, Tracy Chindeya (not real name) was doing Grade 1. Chindeya, now 32, from Kondo village in Chipinge’s ward 16, had hoped that at some point of her adulthood she would break into the male-dominated world of politics. It became her desire throughout her primary education and secondary schooling, which, however, was cut short after she fell pregnant and dropped out of school while she was in Form 2. However, early marriage did not deter Chindeya from pursuing her dream although she had to face a plethora of challenges ranging from patriarchal systems, social, religious and cultural norms “I think I grew up differently from other girls in my hood. Chipinge is one of the communities that is largely characterised by deeply ingrained stereotypes and is a highly patriarchal society,” said Chindeya. “At school I challenged boys on certain aspects regarded as ‘macho’ and when we got to the village, males would be afforded absolute priority at the expense of females who, to some extent, had their rights limited,” she recalled. Chindeya said she had to face the bull by its horns and became a gender champion in her community despite facing a lot of resistance even from her family. Buoyed by the government’s desire to promote gender equality and women’s empowerment at the grassroots, thanks to the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action, Chindeya has been instrumental in gender sensitisation programmes in her community. “It’s a tall order getting into the communities to preach this gender equality gospel. I am seeing a handful of women in our rural communities now sitting at the high tables with men,” she said. “The reason that I will not allow you to publish my name is that I am vying for a political office. It will not be wise enough to go public and announce that because there are lots of obstacles I have to go through. I will make that public when the right time comes. “We have these policies and la