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Beitbridge district council is situated in Matabeleland province of Zimbabwe.
The council has taken some steps towards tackling gender-related issues in their community. There is a draft gender action plan waiting for adoption by the full council; gender projects and 50/ 50 campaign planning are done during meetings with the community on a consultative level.
There is an equal representation of women and men in governance of the town’s council which sees 3 men and 3 women as councillors. The mayor of the council is a female and the deputy is a male. The council has a total of four committees of which two are chaired by women. The town does not have a junior council. Women, youth and people with disabilities participate in the council’s work through the gender workshops that are held as well as ward meetings. Their views are taken into consideration and appreciated by the council members.
The council has a workforce of one hundred people and twenty-two people of the workforce are women. The number of women in managerial positions is three and the number of men in managerial positions equates to twelve; the council has 15 managers. An example of women in non-traditional positions of leadership is the council employs a farm manager and a systems administrator who are both female.
The council makes provision for 3 months paid maternity leave. It also has a sexual harassment policy however have not implemented it as the council has not had to deal with a case of sexual harassment thus far. The council does not have disability friendly facilities.
The Council has a local economic development plan that targets women, people with disability (PWD), and youth entrepreneurs as key beneficiaries. It has allocated 800 market stalls of which 600 are allocated to women despite their disability. Currently, there is an entrepreneurial financial scheme linked to council with the Savings and Credit Cooperative Society (SASSOCS) and the International Labour Organization (ILO).
The council has allocated a budget to gender-related projects in 2015 and 2016:
Category | Budget 2015 | Budget 2016 |
Resources allocated to promoting gender equality in decision-making and public participation | $5 000 | $2 000 |
Resources allocated to promoting gender equality/family friendly/ youth and disability friendly policies and practices | $2 000 | No budget allocated |
Resources allocated to gender-responsive local economic development | $ 544 000 | $ 544 000 |
Resources allocated to promoting gender/youth/PWD responsive projects on climate change | $50 000 | $1 000 |
The council does not have a policy on climate change however have three projects running regarding climate change and how women, youth and PWD are integrated. These activities include recycling of waste water and gum tree plantation and re-use of sewer effluent. The council is responsible for providing health care and is currently responsible for three clinics in the district; Sexual and Reproductive Health Rights facilities are also accessible to everyone.
Click here to read more about the Beitbridge Town Council
Comment on Summit 2016 – Beitbridge Town Council COE