Summit 2016 – Hwange Local Board COE

Budget consultation meeting

The Hwange Local Board (Rural district council) is situated in the Matabeleland North province of Zimbabwe.

The council consists of 15 members of which four are women. The council has 5 committees and one is chaired by a woman. There is also a committee that is chaired by a person living with disabilities (PWD) however there is no Hwange junior council (board).

Women, youth and people with disabilities participate in community-based planning projects and meetings. Between 0 – 25 percent of women participate in these public consultations which include ward and budget meetings.

Of the total workforce of 96 employees, the council employs 30 women and 23 youth. Women account for 23 percent of management. The director of housing and Community services is a woman. Some of the progress that has been made the Hwange board include measures taken to encourage women to apply for jobs. The statement “Women are encouraged to apply” shall be boldly printed on job adverts to encourage women to apply for non-traditional positions of decision making. However, when it comes to contract work, such as roads projects, the Council has made progress as the current roads team of 24 members has a total of 8 women. In the past, only men were contracted for roads projects.

There are provisions for paid maternity leave which is 3 months long including flexi-time. The council has a sexual harassment policy and issues are dealt with by the disciplinary committee. The council does not yet have disability-friendly facilities.

As part of the Hwange Local Board’s local economic development strategies, it provides market stalls to 67 percent of women. 73percent of vendors registered by the council are women whilst men account for 27 percent. The Council leases its kitchen at the beerhall to a local business woman. All women PWD and youth can get licenses from Council for them to legally operate their businesses.

Hwange Local board allocates the following budget to gender-related projects between 2015 and 2016:

There is no deliberate climate change policy in place. On climate change issues, the Council refers to the Local Environmental Action Plan which was crafted after stakeholder consultation. Community Health Clubs are actively involved in solid waste management. Community Health Clubs comprise of women, men, youth and PWD. The Health Clubs usually carry out clean up exercises and have undertaken a project on the reuse of waste material.

Click here to read more on the Hwange Local Board (rural district council).