Summit 2016 – Mutare City Council

The City of Mutare is located in the Eastern Highlands close to the border between Zimbabwe and Mozambique. It is Zimbabwe’s closest city to the sea making it the most strategic location for transport costs sensitive import and export-oriented enterprises. For this reason, in particular, Mutare has been considered as Zimbabwe’s gateway to the Indian Ocean. Mutare is the capital of Manicaland province and covers an area of approximately 16 700 hectares. It is situated 263 kilometres east of Harare and 290 kilometres west of the Port of Beira, Mozambique.

The Council has a Gender Policy in place as well as a Gender Action Plan which is being implemented. The council has 19 councillors. Out of all those, 16 are male and three are female. The Mayor and its Deputy are both males.

The council has seven committees, and women chair two of those. The Junior Council is a male. The council has more boys than girls.

In between 51 and 75% of women participate in the council’s public consultations. Women were represented in Budget Consultative Meetings, Strategic Planning and SMS Hotline Launch.

The council has employed 300 women and 300 youth. Out of the seven people in the top management, two of them are women. The Acting Finance Director is female. Paid maternity leave for three months is offered in the council.

Mutare RDC has allocated budget to support gender-related projects from 2015 and 2016.

Stands are allocated on a ‘first come first served’ basis. There is no discrimination in terms of gender, age or ability. This forms part of the council’s economic development plan to assist a number of people in gaining a sense of income.

Council does not have a Climate change policy in place. However, issues of the environment are important and Council has an Environmental Patrol Unit in place to monitor issues of the environment.