Summit 2016: City of Francistown Council Botswana

The City of Francistown is the second city in the country is situated in the Northern part of Botswana closer to the borders of Zimbabwe. The city is reckoned for booming mining industry and with potential for tourism as it is a gateway to tourism destinations, such as Nata, Maun and Kasane. It is often described as the “Capital of the North.”

The council has put in place a number of gender-related policies to guide its work. The district council consist of 19 male councillors and 5 female councillors. The council aims to expand its percentage of female councillors from 21%. The Mayor of the council is a female.

The council is made up of 15 committees, three of which are chaired by woman. There are more women employed than men in their Workforce of the council.

Young people, people living with disabilities (PWD) and community members participate in community-based planning projects and meetings. Between 51 and 75 percent, women participate in public consultations.

The total workforce of the council employees consist of 52 percent women. Women are only 6 of management. The accounting and revenue officers are women. The Council amended the recruitment, selection and promotion policies to increase the proportion of women in the workforce.

There are provisions for maternity leave but none for paternity leave. The council does not have a sexual harassment policy. Cases related to Sexual harassment, the Public Service Act and the Employment Act provide appropriate interventions to address the above.

The City of Francistown Council allocates a substantial budget to gender-related projects, these amounts have increased from 2015 to 2016.

As part of the of the Council’s local economic development plan, Majority of economic programmes are accessed by women. Affirmative action for all women to supply bread to all primary school in Francistown. There are 1089 beneficiaries benefiting from jobs created by the council, 565 women and 524 men.

Women, men, PWD, and youth are involved in the planning, management, and maintenance of water and sanitation. There is a total of250water and sanitation committees. There is 175 women and 75 men on the committees, 13 of which are chaired by a woman.

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