Councils ordered to adhere to gender policy

of senior staff abusing juniors at councils. Reported cases have been swept under the carpet.

Secretary for Local Government, Rural and Urban Development Mr Killian Mpingo recently issued a circular to all the country’s 91 local authorities compelling them to adhere to the Sadc protocol on gender and development, which urges member states to reduce levels of gender based violence by half by 2015.

Harare City Council adopted the Government directive at its last full council meeting implying that it would employ the recommendations.
“Statistics for gender-based violence in Zimbabwe are a national concern, as they depict an increase in the incidence of violence,” said Mr Mpingo.

“The local government sector cannot be seen to be idle as gender-based violence continues unabated.”
Mr Mpingo stipulated some measures that councils can employ such as participating in the 16 days of activism against gender based violence.

“Provide training to councillors on the evils of gender based violence and encourage them to speak out against it at every opportunity. When officials prepare speeches for councillors, they should include condemnation of gender-based violence,” he said.

Mr Mpingo added that councils should provide havens for victims of gender-based violence to enable them to escape further abuse and to arrange for alternative shelter.
As a means to empower women and make them less vulnerable to sexual abuse, councils have been urged to provide them with economic opportunities.