Summit 2016 – Buhera Rural District Council COE

The Buhera Rural District Council (RDC) is situated the Manicaland province of Zimbabwe.

The council has 34 councillors and 3 female councillors. The council is working to increase the proportion of women councillors in the district. The council has 6 committees and a Buhera RDC junior council, which is chaired by a young woman. The managerial set breakdown of the council consists of four male managers and one manager who is a woman. There are no women in non-traditions areas of decision-making however the council is in the process of producing a gender-sensitive recruitment policy.

There are provisions for maternity leave but none for paternity leave. The council does not have a sexual harassment policy – cases are handled through grievance procedure from the code of conduct and also circulars from Local Government.

As part of the council’s local economic development, 457 stands were allocated to flea markets, hardware, welders and tyre mending and 130 females benefited but no data disaggregated for youths and people living with disabilities. The council recognises care work; some of the support given to caregivers include skills training, allowances and hygiene products and stationary. There is a total of 1044 people involved in care work. This initiative has resulted in helping to observe the treatment of patients e.g. TB patients and Monitor feeding of malnourished children in the community.

The council is responsible for the provision of health care to the community members. The council states that Sexual and Reproductive Health Rights facilities are accessible through Health Education at clinics, school and Community gatherings.

Click here to read more about the Buhera RDC