MASVINGO City Council female councillors have pledged to use their positions to
address issues that affect women and girls in the city during their tenure.
The local authority, for the first time, has five females out of the 13 councillors,
including those who were elected through the 30 percent women’s quota, which was
meant to boost women representation in politics.
Women in cities often bear the brunt of water challenges, with some reports of young
women and girls being abused at boreholes in the wee hours and others being
abused to protect their wares
In an interview after the swearing-in, Sheron Murombedzi, said she was given this
opportunity to address the plight of women and girls despite their political affiliation.
“I promise to address the plights of women in Masvingo City and those from the
surrounding areas. I promise that I will represent them fully in council because we
have been given the opportunity to do so. We will look into the issues that affect
them despite their political affiliation,” she said.
Ward 2 councillor, Shantel Chiwara, said she is going to put more effort in making
sure that she fulfils the needs of women and girls in her ward, who put their trust in
her to fight for their challenges to be addressed in council.
“I am promising a better service delivery and I am promising girls and women that I
will deliver on what they have sent me to do in council. I will represent them and
make sure that their wishes are heard in council and on all other council platforms. I
am going to put more effort that we rise as women,” she said.
Another councillor, Alaica Time, said they will push the women’s agenda including
addressing the scourge of Gender Based Violence, but will do so to the best of their
abilities since not everything can be addressed in a day.
Gender and women groups have been calling on the Government to consider
inclusion of women in the decision-making processes and political inclusion.
In the drive of leaving no one and no place behind, the provision of more women in
council is envisioned to contribute to the amplification of women’s voices.
