Summit 2016 – Bindura Rural District Council COE

The Bindura Rural District Council is in Mashonaland, West province of Zimbabwe

The council has an approved a Gender Policy in place and has since drafted the Gender action plan that incorporated the Post 2015 SADC Gender Protocol and SDGs. There are currently 21 people in the council of which 4 are women and 17 are men. The deputy councillor is a female.

The council has six committees and only one is chaired by a woman. There are more men than women on the Bindura Rural District Council of which none are living with disability. Women participate in the development of council strategic plans as well as council budgets and policies. They also put forward motions on works that need to be carried out in their respective wards. Women are also responsible for coordinating all development work in their respective wards.

The community which includes young people and women to participate in community-based planning projects and meetings. Between 26 and 50 percent of women participate in public consultations. These include village development committees, ward committees, community-based in the form of village assemblies.

Of the total workforce in the council, there are 10 women employed and 34 men employed. The management of council is comprised of 9 people in which only 3 are women. An example of the roles these women occupy that are traditionally not occupied by men includes civil engineering technician, deputy treasurer and chief executive officer.

There are provisions for maternity leave but none for paternity leave. The council does not have a sexual harassment policy however the council’s code of conduct deals with offences of sexual harassment and this is under the very serious offences section. The council has some disability-friendly facilities which include most clinics that have ramps and rails for example at the Manhenga and Makaya Clinic.

Bindura RDC allocates a budget to gender-related projects, these amounts have increased from 2016 to 2017:

Council participates in campaigns to raise awareness on Gender-Based Violence. The council carried out two 50/50 campaigns targeting three wards. They have also participated at Mega Orange Day to fight against GBV. The Bindura Council also participated in the commemoration of International Women’s day and 16 days against Gender-Based Violence.

The Council is aware of climate change and its differential effects on women, men, PWD and youth and are consulted equally on measures to be taken however do not have an existing policy aimed at addressing climate change. They do embark on various climate-related projects which include gulley reclamation, small dam/weir construction, tree planting as well as the provision of waste bins.

Women, men, PWD, and youth are involved in the planning, management, and maintenance of water and sanitation. There is a total of 120 water and sanitation committees. There are 400 women and 300 men on the committees and only 30 water and sanitation committees are chaired by women.

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