Zambia: SOLWEZI COUNCIL

Solwezi is the capital of the North-Western Province of Zambia. Solwezi has approximately 65,000 inhabitants at an elevation of 1235 m above sea level. Kaonde is the largest tribe represented in Solwezi, in addition to large numbers of Lunda and Luvale speaking people.

There is a gender champion and a gender focal point person in this council working towards drafting a gender policy. The council has a total number of ten councillors. Nine councillors are males and one female councillor.

The council has four committees, which one of those is chaired by a woman. The council is dominated by men, and is working towards increasing the participants’ number of women, young people and those living with disabilities.

Young people, people with disabilities and community members participate in community-based planning projects and meetings. Between 26 and 50 percent, women participate in public consultations.

Of the total workforce, the council employs 72 women, 250 youth and 201 men. There is only one woman of management. The director is a woman. The Council amended the recruitment, selection and promotion policies to increase the proportion of women in the workforce.

There are provisions for maternity and paternity leave within the council. The council has no policy against sexual harassment cases, and such cases are to be reported in the police. The council is disability-friendly. The building has ramps for easy access by the disabled people, using wheelchairs.

Solwezi Council allocates a substantial budget to gender-related projects, these amounts increase from 2015 to 2016.

As part of the council’s economic development plan, 75% market stalls have been allocated to women. Under the Ward development funds, women, youths and disabled groups are given grants towards their income generating activities.

With response to climate change and sustainable development, the Council is running a Public Private Partnership on waste management and the owner is a woman. The council is in the process of upgrading the dump site so that waste can be recycled.