Chronicle Editor
Robin Muchetu, recently in Binga
THE traditional African society was largely patriarchal. Leadership positions even at the lowest community levels were reserved for males, a discourse that is globally fading as communities are embracing gender equality.
In Zimbabwe, Binga District is slowly but boldly challenging that with probably more village heads than any other district in Zimbabwe.
The district has taken a deliberate stance to promote women to leadership positions and bring to the fore gender equality.
A visit to any gathering, be it food distribution, development initiatives, or healthcare meetings, one is sure to be met with several female village heads.
So unique is Binga District in terms of ensuring women’s empowerment and gender equality that upon the death of a male village head, they are replaced with a female one.
District Development Co-ordinator for Binga, Mr Land Siansolo Kabome gave an insight into their unique systems of ensuring women take up leadership roles in the communities they live in.
“Embracing women as village head positions is widespread in Binga, especially under Chief Sikalenge where we have 50-50 representation from 106 village heads. This is a deliberate move to ensure the achievement of gender equality.
The traditional leader who is now late fully understood the need to elevate women to leadership positions and decision-making. As such, most women have been appointed to those positions,” said Mr Kabome.
Asked about the qualities that they look at when they install village heads, Mr Kabome said honesty was one of the biggest virtues.
“Most (women) are honest compared to their male counterparts. Men would accept bribes in the form of livestock and the woman would not question where it is coming from and why it is coming but with women, the husband would question where it came from.
“So, sometimes it has to do with the level of accountability and transparency. Women in our society are more transparent and accountable than their male counterparts such that now when a male village head passes on, there is a deliberate move to replace them with a woman,” he said.
Mr Kabome also said other chiefs especially those in resettlement areas were recommending the appointment of female village heads and not waiting for the death of the males to replace them.
“I am impressed as the DDC that the late chief was appointing women into decision-making positions, especially with regard to village heads. We also have other chiefs taking a lead such as Chiefs Sinansengwe, Siansali, Saba and several others,” added Mr Kabome.
A visit to Tinde area under Chief Pashu, 115km from Binga Centre, revealed the reality in the existence of a healthy number of female village heads in the district.
A total of seven village heads from around Tinde Centre were present for the development initiative on social accountability. They said they were 10 from their area.
“There are 10 of us here, it is common, women are given that opportunity and we encourage other women to take up those roles. Women are sensitive to critical issues especially those involving children and young girls. If a child or young person raises an issue, women follow through and have all the time and patience to hear that matter until it is solved.
When a child has no books at school, they report to the mother and she makes an effort to get one. If they report to the father, they are referred back to the mother and that is what shows our importance too. Women must take the lead and lead,” said Mrs Mrs Rabecca Kamini.
“Our job is to look at development in our villages. We observe children who are not attending school and we also look out for vulnerable members of the community too. We identify all problems going on around us, things like Gender Based Violence, they report to us also and we refer them to the police. Our other mandate is looking out for those affected by hunger and taking appropriate steps.”
The village heads also said they call for meetings if there is work that needs to be done by the community. They also summon villagers to pass on important messages and engage in conflict resolution within their communities when the need arises.
They however said some challenges are met as they carry out their mandate.
“The job is sometimes challenging. We deal with a lot of people and cases, so you need to hold information in confidence. A village head must always keep issues involving community members safe, you cannot be a gossip monger and preach to the whole village about private issues,” said Mrs Regina Sibanda village head for Simalili Two.
They said they sometimes are misunderstood by their male counterparts.
“As female village heads, the male heads sometimes don’t understand us, they would just look down upon us and see us as unimportant people without opinions over matters. However, this has been changing over time owing to capacity building where they were taught about the value of each of us as equal beings.
Now, we work well with a good number of them,” said Mrs Ennerd Moyo, the village head for Tinde Centre.
—@NyembeziMu
Online Reporter