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The Umguza Rural District Council is in the Matabeleland North province of Zimbabwe.
Currently, there are 19 councillors – six are female and thirteen are male. The mayor of the council is a woman, and of the seven committees, the council has, three are chaired by women. The council does not have a Umguza junior council however the youth of the community have actively participated in developmental projects. Approximately 51 – 75 percent of women participate in public consultations.
Of the total workforce of 65, the council employs 21 women, 36 youth and one person living with a disability. There is an equal balance of gender representation in the management positions. Examples of women in non-traditional areas of decision making include an engineer, environment officer and assistant treasurer.
The council provides paid maternity leave which is 3 months long, paternity leave which is between 2 – 4 weeks long as well as flexi-time for lactating mothers. The Umguza RDC has a sexual harassment policy. The council does not yet have disability-friendly toilets.
The council’s budget for gender related projects is reflected below:
Category | Budget 2015 | Budget 2016 |
Resources allocated to promoting gender equality in decision-making and public participation | $3 500 | $3 500 |
Resources allocated to promoting gender equality/family friendly/ youth and disability friendly policies and practices | No budget allocated | No budget allocated |
Resources allocated to gender-responsive local economic development | No budget allocated | No budget allocated |
Resources allocated to promoting gender/youth/PWD responsive projects on climate change | $65 000 | $70 800 |
Council through its social services department facilitates for care work in the district and ensures participation by holding various care work workshops. Council has a long-standing and ongoing partnership with the Ministry of Health department and District Aids Council that ensures care workers are capacitated with expertise and skills as well as material wise.
Click here to read more about the Umguza Rural District Council
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Comment on Summit 2016 – Umguza Rural District Council COE