Summit 2016 – Chinhoyi Municipality COE

The Chinhoyi Municipality is situate in Mashonaland West province of Zimbabwe.

There have been a few strategies the council as crafted and adopted to guide its work. The work has been influenced by the action plans developed post the 2015 SADC Gender Protocol. The council has focused on two goals so far which include: GOAL 1: End hunger, achieve food security and improved nutrition, and promote sustainable agriculture – Council contributed food aid to the less privileged via the Mayor’s Cheer Fund.

GOAL 2: Ensure healthy lives and promote well-being for all at all ages – Council opened Shackleton clinic and is in the midst of finishing up Mzari clinic scheduled to be complete by the end of year. Health education and awareness is continuously being given by the health personnel at clinics.

The Municipality of Chinhoyi council is yet to make further gender strides in representation of women as leaders. The council has 15 councillors of which all are men; the chair of the junior council is also a man. Approximately between 76 and 100 percent of women participate in public consultations; these include pre budget consultative meeting, 50/50 campaign related issues, and International peace day events.

The council has a total workforce of 373 people where women make up 38 percent of the workforce. There are 60 youth employed and no people living with disability. Of the 30 individuals in management, there are 12 women employed in managerial positions which include an Expenditure Accountant and a Chief Town Planner.

The council gives provisions for maternity leave but none for paternity leave. The leave is 3 months long and fully paid. The council does not have a sexual harassment policy. Cases of sexual harassment are referred to the Gender Desk where counselling sessions are provided and referrals to Friendly Victim Section are made. The council does not have any disability friendly facilities.

The budget below is what the Chinhoyi municipality has spent between 2015 and 2016:

The council of Chinhoyi Municipality allocated 80 market stalls, 30 were made available for men and 50 were made available for women. The council does not have an existing entrepreneurial financial aid scheme in place that benefits women, men, people living with disability, and youth, however market stalls were allocated to men, women and youths. The domestic science hall was allocated to the Junior Council to operate its activities.

The council has been responsible for allocating land to 900 people of which 45 percent of women were recipients. The council has committed itself towards ending violence and empowering women; the council participates in campaigns to raise awareness on gender- based violence including giving access to all community halls and the park for free when the Ministry of Women Affairs want to do activities on gender related issues.

Click here to read more about the Chinhoyi Municipality.