PR will address more women issues: councillor

Fiona Mpofu

Proportional representation at council level will assist in getting more women issues addressed, a female councillor has said.

These sentiments were shared at the recently held Bulawayo Press Club discussion organised by the Zimbabwe Union for Journalists (ZUJ) at Stanley Hall, Makokoba. 

The discussion ran under the theme “Media and Service Delivery post election: the proportional representation in local authorities”.  

Speaking at the gathering, Bulawayo ward 17 councillor, Skhulekile Moyo said the local authority’s proportional representation will help address the issue of fewer women representation in council. 

 “We realised that as women we are outnumbered by males in councils hence the females that got into office through proportional representation will help us address issues that affect women and at the same time come up with laws that will cater for women, girls and everyone’s needs,” said Moyo. 

Councillor Moyo moved to dispel beliefs that proportional representation female councillors were ceremonial. She said the proportional representation women in office have the same operational powers as any other councillor.

Moyo highlighted that women have a keen eye  on societal and are capable when it comes to addressing  issues that affect society. Giving a 2018 example, where women councillors   noted that a lot of women were opting for home deliveries due to the lack of maternal fees, she said female councillors were the eyes of the council.

“If women use the hospital services, they are kept in the hospital waiting to settle their bills, yet they do not have the money to clear the debt,“ said the councillor. 

Councilor Moyo added that council  found a donor who has helped pregnant women with maternal fees, however, the term of this assistance will end in November 2023. 

“We are still advocating council-government partnership to continue this program as women still face lack of resources to cover hospital bills,” added Moyo.

According to the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission (ZEC) 6 female councillors in Bulawayo were directly elected and 9 were elected through the 30% proportional representation quota. 

“Women constitute the highest population in Zimbabwe, even when we look at the just ended election women registered to vote constituted 53.7% in the voters roll. If women wanted, every councillor could have been a woman, all the MPs where going to be women,” said local governance expert Teddy Ncube.