Gweru City Council’s sole female councillor, Catherine
Mhondiwa (ward 13), has bemoaned the sharp decline in female representation in
local authorities, saying this compromised their capacity to champion women’s
causes at council level.
Previously, Gweru had two women councillors, namely
Mhondiwa and Nokuthula Mbano, who lost in the MDC Alliance’s primary elections
to the new ward 3 councillor, Doubt Ncube.
“What pains is that I am now the only female councillor among
17 male counterparts,” Mhondiwa said after the swearing-in ceremony on Tuesday.
Previously, Gweru had two women councillors, namely
Mhondiwa and Nokuthula Mbano, who lost in the MDC Alliance’s primary elections
to the new ward 3 councillor, Doubt Ncube.
“What pains is that I am now the only female councillor
among 17 male counterparts,” Mhondiwa said after the swearing-in ceremony on
Tuesday.
“The fact that the number of women councillors at Gweru
Council has fallen is a tragedy to the participation of women in politics.
There is need for more from the party level to the women themselves to uplift
the involvement of women in decision-making processes.”
Mhondiwa said issues of service delivery mostly affected
women, yet the irony was that the majority, men, presided over such matters.
“I would envisage a situation where, out of the 18 wards,
we have a 50-50 representation, there being nine female and nine male
councillors. That way, issues affecting residents, particularly women, would be
addressed,” she said.
Taking her oath of loyalty and office before town clerk
Elizabeth Gwatipedza, Mhondiwa said she was prepared to be faithful, diligent,
professional and objective in executing her duties.
In the previous council, the outspoken councillor was head
of the finance committee, where she contributed immensely during council
meetings. Newsday
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