Women’s Institute for Leadership Development (WILD) today conducted a radio program on Skyz Metro FM with three representatives from the 2019 Ward Advocacy Committee. The radio program sought to ascertain roles of WACs in community development and to motivate other women to take up leadership initiatives.
Members of the Ward Advocacy Committee (WAC) are responsible for spearheading community development initiatives within their various locations. Present for the radio was Gretchen Cowley from Umzingwane District Ward 2 in Siphezini, Jeniva Ngwenya who is based in Habane (Ward 16) and Siduduzile Masilela of Gwanda’s Spitzkop North (Ward 5).
Speaking during the radio programme, Siduduzile Masilela, highlighted how she has benefitted from the community structure as she can now lobby for issues affecting women’s access to basic social services.
“As a WAC member, I was able to stand before a number of Members of Parliament to argue a case of the shortage to adequate provision to water and proper sewer reticulation services in Spitzkop,” she said. “I am a bold woman who is not easily swayed when faced with various forms of intimidation and threats.”
Masilela acknowledged her recent appointment as National Treasurer for Zimbabwe Women in Tourism to numerous capacity building initiatives on leadership she received from WILD. She highlighted how WILD has impacted on behavioural change on issues that are burdensome in her community.
“Of late there has been an increase in cases of sexual violence of primary schooling pupils, which I have been following quite closely,” added Masilela. “Girls need to be educated on sexual violence and as a WAC, I will be devoting time to work with the Zimbabwe Republic Police (ZRP) on raising awareness in schools so as to establish ways of bringing a reduction to such social ills.”
Jeniva Ngwenya urged women to remain united and lobby for development in their respective communities as they are highly affected by poor service delivery.
Source: Women’s Institute for Leadership Development
