Tsholotsho women press for women participation in governance

By Thandeka Matebesi

Emthonjeni Women’s Forum is implementing the ‘Women Demanding Accountable Governance’ project in 6 wards of Tsholotsho with the aim of strengthening women’s participation in governance.

The forum’s Programs Manager Melissa Ndlovu said the project is targeting women and youth.

“The project seeks to strengthen women’s participation in governance processes and women’s Constitutional literacy so that women can demand respect, protection and fulfilment of their socio-economic and political rights. Women and the youth are targeted,” said Ndlovu.

Ndlovu also said that the lack of women in positions of leadership in Tsholotsho Rural District Council is negatively affecting representation of women issues.

“Tsholotsho Rural District Council does not have female councillors; therefore, women feel that the interests of women in the community are not represented.  Without women’s needs and interests being considered, without opportunity for them to participate in and influence decision-making, development interventions and planning sustainable results will not be realised”.

“Therefore, there is need for women to take up leadership positions as this is an important step in changing the male-dominated political agenda. That way, women will have an opportunity to attend the meetings, interact with officials and take part in important discussions. It will also ensure social transformation,” she said. 

We need network so that we get information on how to empower ourselves as women, we are still in the dark, we are isolated,” intimated one of the participants in ward 14 Tsholotsho. 

“We call on the Council to prioritize network connectivity as we face mobile and radio network challenges which causes us to lack information of what is happening country-wide,”said one woman in Makaza 

“We no longer need boreholes, we now need a piped water system, we are tired of pumping at the boreholes. It takes away time that we could use for other productive things. Council budget needs to prioritize that,” another woman asserted. 

“We have a water crisis in our villages, we need a dam and rehabilitation of boreholes,” said a woman in Makaza, Ward 14 Tsholotsho during a Pre-budget Consultative meeting.