Articles about Local Government
Ntina Ngakane
18 May 12
Regional relevance: Lesotho
In 2011, I attended a women in politics workshop that was organized by Gender Links and that was when I first met the organization. It was at the time when we were preparing for the 2nd local government elections in Lesotho. The training was on empowering women, and encouraging and supporting the ones who were... [read more]
Mamorobane Ngakane
18 May 12
Regional relevance: Lesotho
I am a local government councilor from Qacha's Nek, in Lesotho. I have encountered Gender Links many times now; my first encounter was in 2011; they were training councillors about gender issues, and it was the first organization to give us training in detail about gender. At that time, people didn't want to hear... [read more]
Motheba Makara Mpota
18 May 12
Regional relevance: Lesotho
When I first met Gender Links, they were evaluating the media reporting on gender issues in Lesotho. I am an independent journalist and broadcaster in Lesotho, and I work as a consultant, so their work was right up my alley. That meeting was organized by WLSA and was on sensitization of gender reporting in the... [read more]
Douglas Thlarase
18 May 12
Regional relevance: Botswana
I came back from my first Gender Links training baptised, a man ready to go out there to fight and make a difference, because for the first time in my life I went through and saw what was happening in real life, face to face. After that, there was no going back [read more]
Ludo Matshameko
18 May 12
Regional relevance: Botswana
My first encounter with Genderlinks was in 2008, when they came to show us their research called Coalface, and it was through this that the relationship between Genderlinks and BALA started. I became very excited and engaged in the work when we were developing a gender plan at Hukuntsi, because I could see the issue... [read more]
Time for an addendum on gender and climate change!
26 April 12
Regional relevance: Southern Africa (SADC)
Johannesburg: 26 April – Participants to the 2012 Gender Justice and Local Government Summit have urged SADC Heads of State to sign an Addendum to the Protocol on Gender and Development on Climate Change this August when they meet in Maputo, Mozambique.
The Addendum commits governments to acknowledge that... [read more]
Women ready to take up leadership roles in Lesotho
25 April 12
Regional relevance: Lesotho, South Africa
While women remain close to parity with 49.1% representation in local councils, the upcoming national elections may also bring an increase in women's representation in governance structures at the national level. Women and men will contest for parliamentary seats in the upcoming national elections on May 26. Women... [read more]
Shyamla Ramdoyal
24 April 12
Regional relevance: Mauritius
I was one of very few women to sit on our District Council. Unfortunately my mandate was only for one year, but I am still a Village Councillor. Not only do I make sure that women, men and children live in a clean and safe environment, but I make it a point to get women interested in male dominated field. After only... [read more]
Rozy Khedoo
24 April 12
Regional relevance: Mauritius
My position as a Councillor has made me understand the suffering of so many vulnerable women, and Gender Links has changed the way I respond to them. I was the first woman to become the Vice Chairperson in a District Council which has always been dominated by men. In my district, I have worked on GBV in many... [read more]
New Act set to increase women’s participation in local government
24 April 12
Regional relevance: Mauritius, Southern Africa (SADC)
The National Assembly of Mauritius recently passed a new Local Government Act that aims to redress the low representation of women at local government level. A delegation of 19 Mauritians are attending the Third Gender Justice and Local Government Summit being hosted by Gender Links in Johannesburg, South Africa and... [read more]
