Zimbabwe - Girls and Young Women in Leadership

Entry 13136

Customarily girls and young women have faced criticism against any freedom and they always been forced back into the kitchen yet they have an important role to play in leadership. One of the aims of Kadoma Junior City Council is to empower girls and young women by promoting gender equality through 50\50 representation in local governance. This has been made possible by a number of organisations that we work with UNICEF and Save the Children and Regional Network of Young Peoples Trust (RNCYPT).

RNCYPT has engaged us in leadership workshops to empower girls and young women to participate in the development of their communities. This initiative is innovative through its unique inclusion of girls and young women to express their own perspective, their understanding of issues, problems, solutions and priorities which are often unique to their own experience.

The project has tried to empower girls and young women by giving them the ability to participate in the local governance and at any leadership roles. It engaged girls and young women in the community coaching them how to act and behave when they get the opportunity to be present themselves at any leadership platform. The aim is to strengthen capacity of local government institutions to deliver services and respond to the needs of girls and young women and to create opportunities for girls and young women to effectively and meaningful participated in the governance of their rights.

The project has reached 80% direct beneficiaries and 20% indirect beneficiaries. The government has allocated $5000 to this project. In kind contributions, the amount reached $2000. The total budget for the project is $7000.

The main challenges have been that women have been under looked hence men in the high leadership roles do not take women serious. Though 50\50 participation of girls in the junior council has not been achieved there has been an increase in the participation of girls in the executive.

The number of girls and young women in the council have improved and girls are taking up high posts such as the mayor and town clerk. Women are so keen to succeed in life and the name which was characterised with kitchen, children and church is now characterised with "DOCTORS, LAWYERS and UNLIMITED LIFE CHANCES".

Michelle says, "The measure of any society is how they treat their girls and women." Men have been resistant in the beginning however now they are participating in activities that promote the participation of girls and young women in the council.  Also Councillor Chinerepi Chinyan’anana says, “We as men thought women wanted to tackle us in leadership however they are just trying to present their issues." Hence, women are being included in leadership roles, be at home or at school. For example the Kadoma Junior City Council executive comprises of seven posts of which three are taken by young women.

Men are taking women seriously and their being taken seriously. Their views are being aired in decision making platforms and more women are keen to take up leadership posts. There has been a policy that the junior council gives boys and girls 50\50 chances.

Women are more capable of being leaders. Going forward, girls should keep on participating in leadership roles hence proving their capable.