Masvingo Residents Forum held and facilitated a Women’s forum on Local Governance and Service Delivery in Ward 18 Triangle at the community hall on 25 November. The forum was an opportunity for women and young girls to receive training and converse on critical socio-economic issues that affect women linked to service delivery and local governance. Topical amongst the issues discussed was the loss of livelihoods due to the current economic crisis which has led women to struggle to access basics like sanitary wear and food for their children in Zimbabwe. The Women also bemoaned informal sector unfriendly policies by the Chiredzi Town Council which ultimately drove vendors out of the market stalls in Triangle due to exorbitant rates with a direct link to local women who are 75% of the recognized informal traders in Triangle. At the end of the meeting there was a consensus by the women on the need to continue convening the Women’s forum even beyond Masvingo Residents Forum’s activities and use the platform as a cog for advocacy for the rights of women in service delivery and local governance. 203 women attended the meeting with 75 of these being young women aged under 35 years. Ward 18 Councilor Gilbert Mutibuki, Chairperson of Triangle Primary School Development Committee Mr Moses Chivande and Zimbabwe informal Industries Association of Zimbabwe Triangle Chapter chairlady Mrs Josephine James attended and addressed the forum. Masvingo Residents Forum is committed to supporting women to play a full and active role in public life, particularly with regard to equal representation in local governance. This is in line with SDG 5: Achieve gender equality and empower all women and girls.
Source: Masvingo Residents Forum
