December 5 2020 will remain yet another significant day when the AU 13th extraordinary session through the AU Chairperson His Excellency Cyril Ramaphosa announced the addition of an instrument to the AfCFTA -Protocol on Women and Youth. The trade negotiators heeded to calls of inclusivity when it went beyond the Preamble.OWIT- Zimbabwe is one of the voices that called for inclusivity of AfCFTA.
The Secretary General Wamkele Mene further issued a press release to advise the world on the addition of the instrument.The role of the IMSMEs and WBOs was emphasized as the key to turning around economies in Africa.Women are overly represented in IMSME(Informal Micro Small and Medium Enterprizes).The AfCFTA will be largely driven by IMSMES.
OWIT-Zimbabwe also recognizes that the benefits from the AfCFTA will not be automatic but will need continuous lobbying especially as countries design AfCFTA National Strategies.We would like to see women organizations taking the lead in the domestication of the AfCFTA.
Please read my article below:
https://www.herald.co.zw/gender-mainstreaming-of-trade-policy/