Visiting female politicians from Zimbabwe have commended the strides that the government of Rwanda has taken in promoting gender equality in all levels of decision-making in the country.

The women who are on a one week study tour in the country expressed their satisfaction yesterday after meeting the Rwanda Women Parliamentary Forum (FFRP) where they got to know the history of the forum and how they have managed to succeed.

The delegation is in the country on a study tour organised by Action Aid, a humanitarian organisation.

Addressing the meeting, the Deputy Speaker of the Zimbabwean Parliament, Nomalanga Khumalo, said that they were very proud of Rwanda, which is why they chose to come and do their study from here and not in the West.

"We are very proud of you. You have achieved what many countries the world over have not achieved,” said Nomalanga referring to Rwanda’s 56 percent women representation in parliament, the highest in the world.

Speaking to The New Times at parliament, the chairperson of Zimbabwe Women Parliamentary Caucus, Biata Beatrice Nyamupinga said that the information they had acquired in Rwanda would be instrumental in boosting women’s representation in decision-making positions.

"I encourage the women of Rwanda to maintain the pace because they have become our role models…we are going to make sure that we follow suit on this,” said Nyamupinga.

During the meeting, the newly elected president of FFRP, Marie Mukantabana, told the visitors that the forum had come a long way and has contributed a lot in rebuilding a country that was highly devastated by the 1994 Genocide.

She added that the forum had contributed a lot in putting in place a constitution which gives women a chance to participate in national development.

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