Baseline Survey on Gender Equality and Women’s Empowerment within the Private Sector in Zimbabwe – Key Findings and Recommendations

This baseline survey assesses the state of Gender Equality and Women’s Empowerment (GEWE) within Zimbabwe's private sector, highlighting the sector’s responsibility to promote gender inclusion in the workplace, marketplace, and community. The study focused on key dimensions such as women’s representation in leadership, participation in underrepresented professions, workplace policies, share ownership, and gender-responsive procurement and corporate social responsibility (CSR) initiatives.

The survey, which gathered 387 responses from companies in five major provinces Harare, Bulawayo, Midlands, Masvingo, and Manicaland reveals significant gaps in gender equality. Women hold only 20 per cent of CEO positions and 25 per cent of board directorships. In male dominated fields like construction, IT, mechanics, and security, women represent just 10 per cent of employees.

Although some companies have policies addressing sexual harassment and promoting gender responsive human resources practices, enforcement remains weak. Women supply only 28 per cent of goods and services procured by corporates and own a similar percentage of shares, which are unevenly distributed across sectors. Furthermore, only 24 per cent of CSR initiatives target gender equality or women’s empowerment.

The study recommends embedding gender equality into core business strategies and enforcing gender responsive policies across the private sector. It also calls for private sector-focused research and advocacy, coupled with targeted programs to build investment literacy and support women-led businesses entering the stock market.

The findings aim to inform strategies for private sector stakeholders, including business associations, stock exchanges, development partners, civil society, and the Zimbabwe government, in fostering a more inclusive and gender-equitable business environment.