Opportunities and Challenges for Grassroots Women in Peacebuilding in Zimbabwe: A Case of Bikita District

The gendered effects of conflict and war have overshadowed women's positive contributions to peacebuilding. This article analyses and interrogates the role of women at the grassroots level in post-conflict peacebuilding in Zimbabwe, paying particular attention to post-2008 election-related violence in the Bikita district. Drawing on document analysis and interviews, this article argues that the government and other development partners working around women's empowerment should undertake civic education campaigns on policies and opportunities available for women in post-conflict peacebuilding. The research established that grassroots women launched several activities at family and community levels championing peace, yet their efforts have gone unnoticed due to the existing definitions of peace. Given the complexities and long-term effects of conflict on communities, efforts to deconstruct misconceptions surrounding peacebuilding and opposition politics must be scaled up, as they have become indispensable for achieving sustainable peace and development in Zimbabwe. Equally, their success depends on supportive institutional networks that allow women to be included at the grassroots in peace processes.