Summit 2016 – Rusape Town Council COE

Rusape Town is situated in Manicaland, sharing the same territory with Makoni Rural District Council. It is known for its branding strategies which they are looking for investment through the use of digital media to advertise the town.

Council has crafted a Gender Policy which was adopted by the Full Council. A Gender Committee is now in place. Council has a revised action plan. The council has 10 councillors. Eight councillors are male and the other two are female.

The council has four committees. Women chair only one committee. This council has a Junior Council. There are many young boys than there are girls within the council.

Junior Councillors participated in the 2017 budget consultations where they managed to air the views and concerns of the youth and their expectations from the council. They managed to convince the Council and residents to construct a primary school in Magamba. Between 76 and 100 percent women participate in the public consultations.

Out of 159 employees, the council has employed 42 women. Rusape Town Council is empowering women through creating equal employment opportunities to both men and women so that both sexes have equal representation in the social, economic and political realm. With the introduction of COE works at Rusape Town Council, more women are now being recruited in various departments of Council for example in the Engineering department both men and women are a team working in brick moulding projects, plumbing, electrical works to mention only a few.

The council has allocated a budget from 2015 and 2016 to support gender-related projects.

As part of the economic development plan, the Council’s Housing policy caters for women, the youth and the disabled in the allocation of residential and the provision of flea markets. Empowerment of women involves awareness raising, building self-confidence, expanding choices and increasing access to, and control over resources. It also involves income-generating activities and enhancing access to job opportunities.