Women urge BCC to prioritise gender-sensitive policies

WOMEN from across Bulawayo have urged the Bulawayo City Council (BCC) to adopt gender-sensitive policies that address their specific needs.

The call was made during a recent budget consultation meeting held at the City Hall to review the 2025 mid-year budget performance and gather community input for the 2026 budget.

Participants, mainly women from various suburbs, raised concerns about critical issues affecting their daily lives, including housing, water supply, health services and public safety.

Housing emerged as a top concern, with many women expressing frustration over the high cost of residential land.
“As women, we hardly get hold of such amounts of money and we are tired of renting. We, therefore, request council to consider reducing the prices for residential stands so we can also afford them,” said Ms Beauty Gulu.

Widows also spoke of the challenges they face in transferring property ownership after the death of a spouse.
“We now stay in houses under our deceased husbands’ names because of the many legal requirements needed to change ownership. Again, as pensioners, we cannot afford to pay six months in advance for rates and water bills,” said Mrs Lydia Changunda.

Water supply in Bulawayo continues to be a pressing issue due to the ongoing 72-hour water shedding schedule.
The women shared how this disproportionately affects them, as they are often responsible for fetching water.

“We end up going to boreholes at midnight to avoid long queues, but this puts us at risk of crime. We need alternative ways to access water,” said Ms Vivian Ncube.

Limited access to maternal health services in suburbs such as Cowdray Park was another critical issue which was raised during the meeting. Residents said slow ambulance response times often force women to give birth at home.

“We feel neglected by the city council. After giving birth at home, it also becomes difficult to get proper documentation for our children. We urge the council to prioritise ambulances and well-equipped clinics in all suburbs,” said Ms Sithabiso Dube.

Mrs Nokuthula Moyo added: “We propose that council-run clinics should have pharmacies on-site. It’s difficult to move around the city just to get medication when you’re unwell.”

Other proposals included the establishment of youth and vocational training centres, transparent communication on council programmes and opportunities and the suggestion that book levy be paid directly to schools rather than through the council.

Other issues included a lack of youth and vocational training centres as well as calls for transparent communication about council opportunities.

A BCC representative from the works department explained that high stand prices were due to multiple servicing partnerships. He said solar street lights were already being installed in some suburbs. The health department acknowledged the shortages and pledged to address the issues.

Responding to the concerns, a BCC representative from the local authority’s works department explained that the high cost of residential stands was due to multiple servicing partnerships. He noted that solar-powered street lights were already being installed in some suburbs to improve public safety.

The city’s health department acknowledged the shortages in services and pledged to work towards addressing the issues raised.