Yesterday, 29 July 2019, a group of young women from Gwanda Urban convened for a Training of Trainer’s Workshop on the constitutional provisions on devolution. The aim of the training sought to equip young women on the necessary requirements needed in setting up structures to cascade the knowledge on Devolution to their communities.
The objectives of devolution are supported by the general principles of provincial and local government enshrined in Section 264 of the Constitution of Zimbabwe. According to the provision, provincial and metropolitan councils and local authorities must, within their spheres ‘ensure good governance by being effective, transparent, accountable and institutionally coherent’. They must ‘assume only those functions conferred on them by the Constitution or an Act of Parliament’.
“As young women in Gwanda Urban, it will be valuable if our resources benefit us, as we lag behind in as far as development is concerned,” said Zanele Nyathi, speaking during the proceedings of a devolution training. “The only way for the town to development is when we are granted powers to ensure that development of the community is prioritised.”
Upon their exposure to the concept of devolution, young women based in Gwanda Urban have taken strides towards raising awareness within the town, through engaging their leaders, both informally and formally.
“We are working towards sharing our idea with the Gwanda Municipality, as we believe that our leaders are key in helping us raise awareness on the concept of devolution,” said Bridgette Ncube, a Gwanda based Development Champion.
Since 2015, Women’s Institute for Leadership Development (WILD) has worked in Gwanda with the mandate of enhancing the participation of young women in civic engagement. It is through concepts such as devolution that young women’s voices can better be amplified.
Source: Women’s Institute for Leadership Development (WILD)