African Journal of Gender and Women Studies

African Journal of Gender and Women Studies ISSN: 2736-1578, Vol. 10 (4), pp. 001-010, April, 2025. Available online at www.internationalscholarsjournals.org © International Scholars Journals

Full Length Research Paper

Kukumbira and the Evolution of Shona Marriage: A Case Study in Changing African Philosophies

Munyaradzi Mawere1* and Annastacia Mbindi Mawere2

1Department of Humanities, Faculty of Social Sciences, Universidade, Pedagogica, CP49, Xai-xai, Mozambique.
2Graduate Teacher, Chadzamira High School, Gutu, Zimbabwe.

Accepted 11 November, 2024

This paper is a philosophical examination of African forms of marriage, particularly the customary marriage practice of Kukumbira (asking for a bride/woman’s hand in marriage from her parents, but with her informed consent) and adopts the Shona ethnic group of Zimbabwe as a case study. It investigates the perception of the Shona people towards the customary practice of Kukumbira. To establish the receptivity of the traditional African marriage custom, Kukumbira, a study was conducted. Fifty persons (30 females and 20 males) from Masvingo and Manicaland provinces participated in the study. Ad questionnaire comprising closed and open items was used as a data collection tool. Data was summarized by means of frequency tables and analyzed qualitatively using evaluative descriptions. An overwhelming majority of respondents cited heft bride wealth charges, colonial legacy and modernity as reasons for the daunting of the custom, kukumbira, yet they wanted the custom to continue on the grounds that it is a valuable part of their culture, respects women’s human rights, stresses prohibition of pre-marital sexual conducts and that it reinforces family ties/links. However, the respondents pointed out that the custom should not be commercialized as heft bride wealth leads to commodification of women. Those who favored abolishment of the custom and other forms of marriage where lobola is paid were a minority. They relegated the custom on grounds that it is at odds with gender equality that contemporary women are fighting for. They also perceived kukumbira and other forms of marriage where lobola is paid as institutions of patriarchy intended to serve males not the women concerned. This study concluded that respondents generally viewed the custom positively although they noted that it is vulnerable to be abuse by some parents who charge heft bride wealth as well as by some husbands and in-laws who abuse the married women’s rights on grounds that they bought her at a price. In view of this conclusion, it was recommended that the custom of kukumbira should be maintained but in such a manner that it builds affinity and social capital between families rather than creating animosity between them, and it do not expose women to abuse in marriage but respects their human rights.

Key words: Customary marriage practice, Kukumbira, Shona, relevance, lobola, Zimbabwe, Africa.
 

African Journal of Gender and Women Studies ISSN: 2736-1578, Vol. 10 (4), pp. 001-011, April, 2025. Available online at www.internationalscholarsjournals.org © International Scholars Journals

Article

Gender, Land Tenure, and Security in South Africa: Challenges from a Critical Security Perspective

Lefatshe A. Moagi

Department of Political and International Studies Rhodes University. E-mail: [email protected].

Accepted 26 November 2024

As a result of the inequalities of social exclusion by the Apartheid regime, the women of South Africa declined to carry pass (compulsory identity document carried by women) in 1956. Finally their protest to be recognised not only as house wives belonging in the kitchen were a success, this meant that they were part of the decision making in the country. The euphoria experienced by the South African society in 1994 with democracy, brought with it policy reformation and transformation and also uniting the different cultures. Under the transformation umbrella the ANC government made its task to address policies that fostered inequality and damaged the social aspects of the country and divided it. This resulted in restructuring social policies that also included land policies which were to be a priority. Land in Africa has been considered as the most important in all (social) aspects. This report will look at the government policies on land redistribution and land tenure security with a gender perspective. Looking at mechanisms, criteria and approaches that government of South Africa has taken to address and promote the distribution by access of land to women. Particular attention should be paid to undoubtedly the land reform policies designed by the government; however gender equality should still be at the forefront of government legislation. Gender equality on land reform process should be viewed as the most important aspect of poverty alleviation and sustainable development within the South African society.

Key words: Gender, land tenure security, South Africa’s land reform policies, critical security studies.
 

African Journal of Gender and Women Studies ISSN: 2736-1578, Vol. 10 (3), pp. 001-008, March, 2025. Available online at www.internationalscholarsjournals.org © International Scholars Journals

Full Length Research Paper

Addressing Attitudinal Factors in Promoting Gender Equity in Botswana's Technical Education: A Counseling Perspective

Raditloaneng Wapula Nelly

University of Botswana, Department of Adult Education, Faculty of Education, P/Bag 00702, Gaborone Botswana. E-mail [email protected]. Tel: 011-267-3552066 (w) 3918474(h) 72474403 ©. Fax: 011-267-3552266.

Accepted 13 October, 2025

The purpose of this paper is to provide an overview of the importance of attitude as a factor that reinforces and disproportionately affects boys and girls on one hand, and men and women on the other. The main argument posed in the paper is that attitudes are an important factor in the way men and women are disproportionately participate and are affected by access to technical training and work based learning opportunities. The camp of transformation and critical feminist thinkers who view part of the overall mission of adult education as critical feminist pedagogy call for the need for an inclusive technical training for both men and women, as part of the global initiative to ensure gender equality in access to technical education. Gender research and literature that inform this paper, and the empirical study conducted under the auspices of Botswana training authority metaphorically conceive technical training as a male province while women have remained relatively invisible, partly due to unfavorable attitudes, in training and employment opportunities in the technical sector. The post independence Botswana as a nation has worked towards a reversal of this trend by creating the necessary housing infrastructure, and striving to gradually reshape the trend by mainstreaming gender on a pilot basis in some government ministries. As a nation, Botswana can take pride in mainstreaming gender as a step in the right direction towards redressing gender inequality in technical training. However, a lot can be achieved through addressing negative attitudes that men are the most suited for technical training and employment than women.

Key words: Technical education, attitudes, technical training, gender
 

African Journal of Gender and Women Studies ISSN: 2736-1578, Vol. 10 (3), pp. 001-010, March, 2025. Available online at www.internationalscholarsjournals.org © International Scholars Journals

Article

Assessing Gender Inequality in Pakistan's Primary Education Sector

Mazhar-ul-Haq Baluch* and Saima Shahid

Lahore School of Economics, Main Campus Burki Road Lahore, Pakistan.

Accepted 15 January, 2025

Though the furnished educational quality of the enrolled students leads towards the positive example of success of not only in education but also in practical life of the ensuing generation, yet to alleviate gender disparity in social and cultural context, special measures are needed for the success and improvement of females overall in the country to participate in share contributed by experience of development. This experience would help to gain the required momentum and extol a new development practice in implementation of educational policy. Millennium development goal (MDG 3) for gender equality and the empowerment of women was the goal that was set with the earliest date for achievement. The target associated with MDG 3 was an end to gender disparity in primary and secondary education (Unterhalter, 2006). Despite adoption of the several policy measures and program initiatives, gender gap at primary school level was estimated to the extent to 11.13%. The gap due to treatment of parent with the boys and girls under normal routine and societal aspirations was estimated at 10.956 or 98.4% of the estimated entire gap. This situation leads towards the dimension that boys are preferable group in Pakistan. Since the disparity was due to preference to males over females at school level, underlying reasons might be the cultural, societal, and traditional expectations, that is, linked future of females with expected husband s’ households after marriage and all obligations of parents for males, considering them heir of all types of properties.

Key words: Gender disparity, education, policy measures, preferable societal aspirations.
 

African Journal of Gender and Women Studies ISSN: 2736-1578, Vol. 10 (3), pp. 001-006, March, 2025. Available online at www.internationalscholarsjournals.org © International Scholars Journals

Review

Empowering Women in the Silk Sector: Uniting Agency and Structural Opportunities

Geetha G.S. and Vindhya G.S.

Central Sericultural Research and Training Institute, Srirampura, Mysore, Karnataka, India

Accepted 10 December, 2024

This article examines empowerment theory and concept advocated by Antony Giddens in case of women involved in silkworm rearing in Rural India. The focus of the article is how sericulture provides an opportunity for women’s economic participation and to embraces it as their livelihood. It also explores how their participation changes their image from domestic unpaid worker to main contributor of household. It also highlights how sericulture participation increases their networking amongst themselves and perhaps to quote as feminization of sericulture work.

Keywords: Women, Agency, Opportunity structure, Economic Empowerment, Silkworm rearing, Feminization, Silk Industry.
 

African Journal of Gender and Women Studies ISSN: 2736-1578, Vol. 10 (3), pp. 001-008, March, 2025. Available online at www.internationalscholarsjournals.org © International Scholars Journals

Review 

Navigating Gender in Zimbabwean Politics: Pathways to Parliamentary Representation
 

Thulani Dube

Department of Development Studies, Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences, Lupane State University, P.O Box AC255, Ascot, Bulawayo, Zimbabwe. E-mail: [email protected]. Tel: +2639883098

Accepted 19 January, 2025

This paper discusses the trends and patterns regarding the participation of women and men in parliamentary politics in Zimbabwe from the first democratic elections in 1980 to the 2008 elections in the context of global and regional trends. The main objective of this paper is to review both quantitative and qualitative data concerning the progress made in the direction of promoting women’s participation in politics against the background of Millennium Development Goals targets and other international targets to which Zimbabwe is a signatory. One of the targets of the 3rd millennium development goal is to increase the ‘proportion of seats held by women in national parliaments’. The period of focus is between 1980 and 2013. The paper notes that the current levels of women’s representation in parliament remain below the world average of 19%. The various causes of this are highlighted and discussed leading to recommendations in tackling the issue.

Key words: Gender, equality, politics, Zimbabwe, democracy, parliament, participation.