2015 SADC GENDER PROTOCOL SUMMIT AND AWARDS

CENTRES OF EXCELLENCELOCAL GOVERNMENT

INSTITUTIONAL APPLICATIONThis award recognises progress in mainstreaming gender the local government, and Media Centres of Excellence. Use this form to do your institutional profile as part of your application process. The application must be accompanied by evidence to support all application form.

ALL FIELDS ARE COMPULSORY.

THIS PART OF THE APPLICATION WILL BE UPLOADED ONLINE

Name of good practice “GENDER EQUALITY IN MAKONI RURAL DISTRICT COUNCIL WHY NOT 50/50 YES WE CAN”

SCORE CARD AND EVIDENCE TABLE

Please fill in progress on your score card from last year, and update the evidence. Judges will assess the progress you have made. Their score will be final.

Please upload your completed score card on the online application in the section called supporting documentation. Please name your score card as follows

Please use this section to list the evidence that goes with your score card. Upload evidence on the online application in the section called supporting documentation.

LOCAL GOVERNMENT EVIDENCE UPLOADED – PLEASE RECORD FILE NAMES

Policy framework National Gender Policy HIV and AIDS Policy Funeral Policy Gender Action Plan

Governance Full Council Minutes Committee Minutes Committee Structures Ward development committee minutes

Mainstreaming gender into existing programmes

o Clients Chartero Council’s Vision Mission Core Values and

Objectiveso Procurement Committee minuteso Tender Advertisementso Tender Contracts

Procurement Procurement Committee MinutesAdjudication of Tenders

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LOCAL GOVERNMENT EVIDENCE UPLOADED – PLEASE RECORD FILE NAMES

Tender AdvertisementsTender ContractsAssets Register

Climate change and sustainable development

Attendance Registers on allocation of stands Stands Registers Permits Registers Boreholes constructed and repaired Committee minutes.

Statistics on schools and clinics

Land and housingWater and sanitationEnvironmental healthHIV and AIDS and care workSocial developmentGender specific projectsGender based violenceOthersEmployment PracticesSelection and recruitment Advertisements for jobs

Copy contracts for workers

Capacity building Sub District Training Minutes Ward Development Committee Minutes

/Reports District Gender Council Reports/Minutes Workshop Programmes and Reports

Working conditions and environment

o Vouchers for staff foodo Policies for HIV and AIDSo Funeral Policyo Medical Aido Protective Clothing Policy

Gender Management SystemGender structures

Council Committee Organogram Council Staff Organogram District Gender Council Minutes/Reports Council’s Gender Committee. Performance contracts for Mr Pise, Mr Mushaya

and Mrs Murigwa.Budgets 2014 budget

2015 budget Full Council minutes Finance Committee Minutes Management Team Minutes

Monitoring and evaluation scorecard Review Reports Programme of Works Construction standard Building bye –laws by council Monitoring and evaluation committee Health requirement standard Biological oxygen demand } on sewer Chemical oxygen demand } on sewer

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LOCAL GOVERNMENT EVIDENCE UPLOADED – PLEASE RECORD FILE NAMES

World Health Organisation standard } on portable water

Resource mobilisation for work on gender equality Amount local currency (specify)

Amount in Rand

Gender specific allocation – please state the names of the projectsWomen’s Revolving Fund USD5000 35 000Sub District Training USD 6000 42 000Nyazura reservoir and Headlands Sewer Reticulation

USD 210 000 1 470 000

Staff Canteen USD 4 800 33 600Gender in mainstream projects (please specify)Electrification of Inyati Mine Township USD 20 000 140 000Mitsubishi Motorised Grader (purchased on 10/3/15)

USD 174 000 1 218 000

Nyazura and Headlands Townships Street Lights

USD 30 000 210 000

Boreholes Repairs and Maintenance USD 30 000 210 000Tsikada Clinic Construction USD 20 000 140 000Nissan Caravan AAE 6753 (Staff and Cllrs Bus)

USD 10 000 70 000

In kind contributions to the COE process – eg venues (please specify)

Funds raised from donors or the private sector for gender work – (please specify)Gender Links Grant for 50/50 Advocacy campaign

USD 1 000 7 000

Ford Ranger truck REG AAE 8590 donated by Action Faim

USD 15 000 105 000

TOTAL USD 525 800 3 680 600

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THIS WORD DOCUMENT WILL BE UPLOADED TO THE WEBSITE 1. INSTITUTIONAL PROFILE

COUNTRY ZimbabweCOUNCIL Makoni Rural District CouncilGENDER CHAMPION Mr Edward PiseGENDER FOCAL PERSON

Mrs Annah Murigwa

Baseline score (year) 2012 -60%Progress Score (year) 2014 -68%Latest score (year) 2015 -76.5%Attitude score –baseline 2014- 40%Attitude score – follow up 2015 -50%

Women Men Total % WomenCouncil 4 34 38 10.52%Management 6 6 12 50%

Council staff overall 15 65 80 18.75%Population served 129 397 118 596 247 993 52.17%Key characteristics Mining, Buying ,Selling and

Agriculture

SynopsisSum up the situation of the Council – how far has it come, how far has it progressed, what evidence is there of change. If possible begin with an anecdote that demonstrates this change. - 300 words

Makoni Rural District Council is the largest administrative district in Zimbabwe. It shares boarders with 7 other districts.

It has urban set ups in Nyazura and Headlands. A ghost Inyati Mine Township where copper was mined has no electricity and no activity taking place. Council has injected funds towards its electrification and drilled three boreholes. 22 clinics are under council’s jurisdiction. The farthest is Chikore Clinic one hundred kilometres away from Rusape. Tsikada Clinic was officially opened on 20 February 2015. The Gender Focal Person Mrs A Murigwa was the Director of Ceremony together with one of the teachers at the nearby Tsikada Secondary School.

Council has come up with reviewing policies periodically. These include Funeral, Staff Training Transport and HIV and AIDS.

Council staff wears ‘black ‘on Thursdays in solidarity to children and women raped in the district.

Council’s gender journey has been tough. There is remarkable change now that the council chairperson Alderman Mutasa, the Chief Executive Officer Mr EM Pise and all heads of Departments had maximum buy in on gender mainstreaming.

Council’s Treasurer is a woman and makes sure that gender issues are given priority and releases funds hence US$5000 to 10 women’s groups in 2014.

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Wards which have not yet received funds from council have spearheaded Mukando that is pass on scheme on projects which include fencing of homesteads, paying bride price to in-laws, sending children to universities and improving health standards for households members.

Key objectivesPlease state the key gender mainstreaming objectives of the COE – 300 words

To disseminate information on gender mainstreaming among employees at workplace at 3 sub offices, 22 clinics and in 39 wards from 50 % to 60 % by 31 December 2015.

To mainstream gender in all council’s 64 functions as specified by the Rural District Council’s Act Chapter 29:13, from 45% to 55% by 31 December 2015.

To conduct gender audit yearly whenever projects are identified by communities for the respective wards.

To budget yearly for Women’s Revolving Fund and ensure that the projects are implemented and funds are returned to council and loaned to all 39 wards.

To strengthen the district’s Gender Council through coordination of district activities by Ministry of Women’s Affairs, Gender and Community Development.

To conduct sub district training on gender, in 5 wards by 31 December 2015.

To collect gender disaggregated data and information related to gender based violence at institutions within the district by 31 December 2015.

Background

Give some background - What was the situation before the intervention? Include evidence from leaders within the institution, and those served by the institution – 300 words

Council used to have misconceptions towards gender, as women’s issues. The coming in of Integrated Results Based Management gave council a green light. The policy makers are eager to know what the council was doing over addressing gender agenda in the district. The Chief Executive Officer being the most innovative CEO in the country, ventured in local empowerment of women by proposing USD 5000 yearly towards women in the district. (Article 15 to 19 of the SADC Protocol on Gender and Development.)The Administration and Human Resources Officer as an Agent of change over gender issues advocated for gender mainstreaming with a punch. He sent his wife to a teachers college and

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remains caring for his two children in lower primary school grades. He advocates gender issues at workplace and in communities.

Alderman D M Mutasa has capacitated his wife who is now responsible over financial matters on his tobacco farming project. He spares time to attend gender workshops within and outside the country. He advocates for equality in council chambers unlike before when women were giving opening and closing prayers and not participating effectively in council deliberations.

The Principal Internal Auditor Mr I Mabaudhi initiates discussions during lunch on gender and sex. Some ratepayers also join in the discussions.

Council now plays videos on council programmes, official opening of clinics, and council’s i and awareness campaigns at its Reception. Gender Links’ CDs are also played. This has a positive impact on the dissemination of council’s 64 functions under its mandate.

Some councillors now bring spouses in council meetings. This has shown that councillors are responsible fathers and mothers, promoting for education of electorates in local governance (Article 14 of the SADC Protocol on Gender and Development

Council on 31 March 2015 resolved that social networking on WHATS-UP is vital. What’s-up was to be utilized by council in sending messages on any urgent issues which require council’s intervention.

Key activities

Please list at least five in bullet form – 500 words SUB DISTRICT TRAINING

District Gender council members are involved in sub district trainings of communities.

5 training interventions have been lined up for 2015. Climate change has been set by council as priority due to deforestation.

Makoni District has resettlement areas where farmers grow tobacco as a cash crop.

Although contract farming by tobacco marketing companies is underway, still farmers utilize indigenous trees as firewood. The companies supply farmers with input including coal.

It takes less than 20 minutes to cut an indigenous tree and 20 years for it to mature.

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Deforestation has impact on climate change and affects girls and women as they travel long distances to obtain firewood for cooking food.

Council has enacted a policy that every tobacco farmer should establish a woodlot to curb deforestation when curing tobacco.

Vehicles ferrying tobacco bales for marketing also destroy roads and bridges that were washed away by cyclone rains.

Tobacco marketing companies have been requested to pay levies in order to repair roads in the district.

Gender based violence has been rife in the district. At sub district trainings, village heads and other traditional leaders are

encouraged to conduct village assembly meetings and cascade the knowledge learnt.

Communities are urged to report any gender based violence cases especially children at schools.

Reports have been made on abuse of girls by teachers .Ministry of Education is investigating the cases.

Victims Friendly Unit at Police stations attends to gender based violence cases.

Development partners are equipping women, men boys and girls with entrepreneurship skills.

Rural Women’s Associations have been put in place by Action Aid Zimbabwe.

Rural Women’s Associations are developmental structures which educate communities on poverty eradication and women empowerment. (Article 15-19).

Resource allocations

Please put a summary here from the information uploaded

Local currency RandsCouncil allocations to gender-specific projects

USD 225 800 USD 1 580 600

Council allocations to gender in mainstream projects

USD 284 000 USD 1 988 000

In –kind support to the COE process USD 16 000 USD 112 000

Challenges

What have been the main challenges? How have these been overcome? 300 words

Major challenge is that the district is vast and cannot be reached at once.

Councillors are not mobile and travel for 50+ km servicing the communities.

Council established Maungwe Investments (Pvt) Ltd which has hundred per cent share ownership.

A resolution has made to purchase motor cycles for all the 39 councillors for mobility.

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Sub offices were established at Nyazura, Headlands Inyati Mine Township and Chiendambuya Growth Point for access by communities to services offered by council.

Police Base Camps have been established at council clinics: Chitenderano, Tandi Matsika to mention a few.

All gender based violence cases are reported at base camps and victims are attended to at the clinics before they proceed to one stop centre situated at the district hospital in Rusape.

Ministry of Gender has Coordinators at village level. Not all wards have these Coordinators.

Spearheading of gender programme is still a process. District Gender Council has roped in Pastors in its structure. Gender issues are now being discussed in churches although some

people do not attend church services. Dissemination of information is still a challenge because of the

vastness of the district.

Results (Please fill in what is relevant to your COE)

Women’s empowerment How have women been empowered as a result of the COE work? – 200 words

Empowerment of women is a process which starts from individuals’ homes.

Resources are limited and women in the district have been urged to commence market gardening among other projects.

From garden to kitchen are the theme used to empower women. Government‘s ZIMASSET blue print urges people to utilize resources

they have. Drying vegetable/meat is now the order of the day in the district. Development partners, Ministry of Health and Gender, Youth and

council are spearheading value addition projects to communities.. Banks through confirmation letters from council assists women in

securing loans. Council resolved a policy on revolving funds for women on a 2%

interest rate. Councillors where the funds have not been given urge women to

commence revolving fund on their own especially in Ward 26. Councillor V Marowero of ward 26 managed to buy vehicle through the

pass on scheme. Degree and Diploma programmes by council staff are underway. One quote from ward 26 councillor.

Evidence Please provide at least one quote from a woman beneficiary to support your statement on women’s empowerment. Please remember name, surname and designation.- 100 words

Quote from Gladys Makoni (Jana)

’’Knowledge is power”

Men for change

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Have men become more supportive of gender equality as a result of the COE work? Please give examples – 300 words

Administration and Human Resources Officer Mr Pius Mushaya, is from Chief Makoni clans. He preferred the recruitment of male Office Orderlies. Through COE process council employed Rebecca Mbizo as an Office Orderly and other women contract workers. These have proved to perform better than men.

The Chief Executive Officer Mr Edward Pise has capacitated the Gender Focal Person Mrs Murigwa. She received on the job training through capacity building programmes. She rose from being a Receptionist to - Deputy Admin Officer and now District Gender Focal Person. She is now a master of ceremony on council activities.

The Council Chairperson an Alderman has been capacitated. He is now the President of Association Rural District Councils and has attended international Forums through capacity building by council. He is a commercial tobacco farmer and a world renowned Artist by profession. He worked at the National Heroes Acre with the Koreans that designed the monument. He also made the statue of the late father Zimbabwe Dr Joshua Nkomo. Engineer Edmore Chidembo is new the National Chairperson of the Engineer’s Forum. Capacity building through Centre of Excellence has resulted council staff/ policy makers being recognised nationally, regionally and internationally.

A quote from the Chief Executive Mr EM Pise when council was rated the best performer in Zimbabwe ’’ The sky is the limit in development’’

Evidence Please provide at least one quote from a man involved in the coe process to support your statement on the improvement of service delivery. Please remember name, surname and designation - 100 words Quote from Mr Fungai Misi

Changes at household levelHas the work of the COE resulted in changes in power relations at the household level? Please give a few examples – 300 words. A Murigwa was widowed in 2001. Her children were in grades 3 and form one respectively. She educated them whilst working at Makoni Rural District Council ‘through support from the Chief Executive Officer Mr E Pise and Mr P Mushaya the Administration Officer.

She managed to send her children to colleges. Currently her first born Patience Nyasha Murigwa is a Bank Teller at ZB Rusape.

Portia Kudakwashe Murigwa completed BA Degree Programme at Great Zimbabwe University. She is now a Secondary school teacher. She is still pursing education on block release at Great Zimbabwe University.

These children have been capacitated by their widowed mother.

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A Murigwa has taken up farming as a hobby. She has managed to construct houses in town and at her farm. Life although full of ups and downs, is manageable through the COE. Mrs A Murigwa life history is on the internet. Makoni Rural District Council’s performance has improved as the gender focal person has marketed it.

Faith Hofisi is as student from Bindura State University studying Development Studies. She has benefitted as a student from 2014 till August 2015.She is currently within the planning section. Her duties involve processing of permits, cessions, lease documents and allocation of stands. She participated in the advocacy of the 50/50 Campaign at Masvosva Business Centre. She captured deliberations at the event.

At her home, she is now responsible of household chores. F Hofisi has capacitated other student in the community on gender issues. She appreciates in the gender Links/council’s partnership.

Evidence : Letter from Faith HofisiPlease provide evidence of changes at household level through at least one quote from a community member. Please remember name, surname, organisation and designation. 100 words

Changes in attitudesAre attitudes in the community changing as a result of the COE work? Please provide at least one example. 200 words

Changes in attitudes in communities are noticed especially communities which have received funding from council. Groups which have received council’s assistance are better placed as their livelihoods have improved.

Some have managed to pay school fees for children whist other health have improved as a result of protein from chicken they rear and sell.

Reduced gender based violence at these communities is now the order of the day. Husbands now are involved in assisting their wife’s and doing other chores when their wife’s are engaged on projects.

Development is a process. There is positive development in these wards communities now eligible to pay levies to council.

On the plough back schemes by council, viable projects are identifies by communities e.g. road repairs and clinics construction borehole repairs adding value to the assets in respective wards.

Evidence Please provide at least one quote that demonstrates changes in attitudes. Please remember name, surname, organisation and designation. – 100 words

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Councillor O Chikunguru (male)

Changes at the work placeWhat changes have taken place at the work place as a result of the COE work. Please give examples. 300 words

Morale through motivated workforce is the order of the day at Makoni Rural District Council offices in Rusape Chiendambuya, Nyazura Headlands and Inyati Mine Townships.

Provision of morning teas and lunches daily has improved health to the staff. No staff deaths were reported from 2012. Sick leave days have reduced time-off .Herbs and vegetables assist staff and other people who also access the herbs from the herbal garden.

As a centre of excellence, awards from Gender links, Ministry of Local Government have been given to A Murigwa, Chief Executive Officer Mr E Pise and Council.

Council has been rated the best performer in the country 2011 and 2012. In 2014 it was rated the 2nd best performer in Zimbabwe.

Council has made a policy of implementing the Integrated Results Based Management system. It now recognizes best workers through the worker of the year award. 5 Departments come up with best performers who will compete for the overall award.

Development is a process. Exchange visits have been made to Chipinge Rural District Council for billing system and council is working hand in glove with its sister council Rusape Town Council. The clients and stakeholders served by both councils are the same.

Century Bank has offered council a loan of $210 000 because of its performance.

Council has managed to purchase a motorised grader, Chief Executive Officer’s truck and other service vehicles to improve service delivery as outlined in the Rural District Council Act first schedule (64 functions).

Evidence Please provide evidence of these changes through at least one quote from a Council functionary. Please remember name, surname, organisation and designation. 100 words

Letter from Engineer Chidembo (male)

Service delivery How has the quality of service delivery improved as a result of the COE work– 500 words

The mandate of council is to provide 64 functions according to the Rural District Council Act Chapter 29:13.

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Council has come up with a client’s charter after consulting ratepayers, stakeholders and its clients.

Council’s core values are: - Integrity, Impartiality, Transparency, professionalism and confidentially. Council has its Vision, Mission Statement and Objectives. Each department has its vision, mission and core values.

All council staff have job descriptions. The Chief Executive Officer, Heads of Departments and Deputy Heads of Departments have performance contracts which are reviewed quarterly. All council committees Finance, Human Resources, Audit, Roads Planning and Works, Health and Social Services and Environmental Management Committee have Heads of Departments who service them. District Development committee is chaired by the District Administrator and comprises Makoni Rural District Council and Rusape Town Council. The quality of service has improved as a result of the council being the centre of excellence. Rating of council’s it done yearly by the Ministry of Local Government.

Council has been rated the best performing Rural district Council in Zimbabwe for the 2 consecutive years. In 2013, council was rated second best. The first position was taken by Goromonzi Rural District Council.

Motion forms are received from ratepayers, councillors on requests to council. Motion are presented to various committees and deliberated upon. Resolution is made and implementation is made by council’s departments.

Evidence Please provide at least three quotes from beneficiaries to support your statements on the improvement of service delivery. Please remember name, surname and designation- 150 words

Misi, Dumbuka and farmer

Public participationHow have you involved the community in the COE work? What impact has this had? 200 words

The triple P concept that is Public Private Partnerships has been introduced by council.

Churches have come on board in taking over schools and clinics. Gender is now being discussed in churches within the district. State of art buildings, electrification and water system toilets, boreholes and tapped water have been constructed at schools which include Zambara, Nyazura Mission and Woodlands Primary School.

A plough back from development levy policy was adopted. Funds are used by communities at projects of their own choices.

Improved performance at schools has been noted having St Faith Mission, Nyazura Mission and Kriste Mambo topping the list in ‘O’ and ‘A’ result at national level. Action Faim a development partner still to operate in the

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district donated a Ford Ranger truck which was commissioned to the Health and Social Services Department of council.Some Local I Minister and Local Members of Parliament have initiated repairs to roads in their various constituencies.

Participation in yearly budgets by ratepayers has a positive impact on the operations of council. The ratepayers/ stakeholders’ have ownership to council’s budget.

Evidence Please provide evidence of community involvement through at least one quote from a community leader. Please remember name, surname, organisation and designation - 100 words

Mrs Chimene United Methodist Church

Outreach through the media How do you engage with the media to popularise the SADC Gender Protocol and the work on gender equality? 150 words

Council involves local newspapers officials at l Council meetings, commissioning of council’s new equipment/ donations. The District Gender Council has officials from Manica Post Samuel Kadungure and Mr Kadzura as its members.

Publicity of council programmes has positive effects on the operations of the council. Improvements can be made over negative issues as outlined in the media.

IEC materials by council and development partners is distributed on 16 Days of Activism, International women’s day and any other campaigns / training interventions.

Council has a TV set at its reception. Videos are played on gender and other service delivery programmes. Ratepayers are informed about council operations when they visit the offices.

Clients charter displayed at strategic place, inform client / stakeholders on what clients/ stakeholders on what services they expect from council.

Evidence If you can, please provide at least one example of media coverage resulting from your work Url, pdf, You tube Council Television

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Changes at a policy level that have come about as a result of the COE workPlease use this space to note any changes that have come about at a policy level as a result of the COE work. – 300 words

Council enacted the following policies as a result of COE Work

Coal Project FC/FHR 37 of 8 April 201. Gender Links summit in South Africa FC 10/ FHR 22 of 8 April 2010. Long Service Awards FC55/ FHR 55 of 19 August 2010. Loans policy FC60/FHR 61 of 19 August 2010. Coal stove FC77/AMC 13 of 19 August 2010. Strategic Plan FC1 of 30 January 2007 Wedding Policy FC 13/ FHR 34 of May 2012 i.e. employee $200,

councillor $150 and Child of employee / councillor $75. Rampant cutting down of tree FC19/FHR /FC50/EMC 42 of 3 May 2012. Councils strategic Plan for 2013 to 2016 FC 198/ FHR 83 of 23/03/12. Training and Evaluation Policy FC 292 OF 23 August 2012. Environmental Awareness Meetings FC 217 OF 23 August 2012. Timber and firewood sale Point FC 225 OF 18 October 2012. Maungwe Investments Pvt Ltd Registration and Formation FC 2/2013

and FHR 49 of 15 May 2013. HIV and AIDS policy FC 2008 and FHR 14 of 3 April 2010. Revolving Fund for Women: According to SADC Protocol on Gender,

gender is an issue which should be considered in service provision. Council Resolving fund for women – groups ( 19 November 2013)

30% plough back to communities for community projects of their choice (Full Council No 2 of 19 November 2013.

Review of council’s Funeral Policy FC 15/ SF 3 of April 2011.

Evidence Please provide evidence of these changes. – 100 words

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Registry Clerk Lilian Kwashata are flanked by council staff at her wedding 11 April 2011.

Letters from Mrs A Murigwa and Mr P Mushaya

Any other changes that have come about as a result of the COE workPlease use this space to note any other changes that have come about as a result of the COE work.

Council has students on attachment from Midlands State, University of Zimbabwe, Bindura, Chinhoyi University, Mutare Polytechnic and Magamba Training Centres. They are capacitated by council officials on local governance , engineering , development studies and accounting . Students in turn, assist council officials on any development s in technology and any other work related matters.

Documentation is important to council. Council Officers opened e-mail addresses. Communications are now being done on e-mails and printing of documents has been reduced. Communication through WHATS UP was resolved at by council on 31 March 2015.

Reports now include pictures on projects embarked by council.

I Pads were purchased for the Chief Executive Officer and council’s Heads of Departments phasing away the laptops.

Evidence Please provide evidence for any additional information you have provided.

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Email address for A Murigwa, L Kwashata, P Mushaya and S Kurehwatira amurigwa@gmail.comliliankwashata@gmail.compmushayazvese@gmail.comskurehwatira@gmail.com

Lesson learned and innovation What lessons have been learned in the COE process? How are these being applied? 300 words

Council has learnt that evidence is vital in all council operations. Documents /vouchers need to be attached to any reports. Reports in any council meetings are now a requisite. Improved usage of computers and networking has resulted council in receiving quotations through e-mails.The District Engineer has designed Headlands Sewer Works. Environmental impact Assessments were conducted by council before council’s housing project in Nyazura and Headlands Township as curbing measures on the environment.

The Chief Executive Officer, Engineer, Council Chairperson and other heads of Departments attend national, regional and international forums. These have capacitated them. They have copied good practices and practised them in the district.

Most council staff now have internet connected at their residents.

Human resources are the most vital in any organisation according to Ann Bates. Low staff turnover had been experienced in the past by council. Currently there is staff retention and stability by staff. Provision of lunch to all staff has motivated and improved their performance.

Exchange visits were conducted to Chipinge Rural District Council on billing system. Council has registered for ECOCASH transactions and its awaiting the biller code.

Most staff are on study programmes funded and bonded by council by council .

As a land authority council has offered residential and business stands in Headlands and Nyazura Townships to easy housing backlog and provides descent accommodation.

Home ownership is promoted by council to sitting in tenants. Street naming is underway as already council made a policy on 31 March 2015.This will assist in identifying houses on reports on gender based violence.

Learning and sharing with other councils

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How have you learned from and shared with other Councils involved in the COE process? Please be specific – give names of the Councils, where and how you met and shared.

International Women’s Day celebrations were conducted by the District Gender Council in Rusape Town. Makoni Rural District Council contributed with staff and vehicles towards the celebrations. Both the Gender Focal Persons for both councils were present.

Sharing with Rusape Town Council and Nyanga Rural District Council has resulted in improved service delivery. Billings of council accounts will reduce current staff in the Treasury Department who will be re-organised.The District Gender Council has proposed an exchange visit to Beitbridge Rural District Council were UN Women development partners have similar projects and programmes like in Makoni District. Exchanging of notes on gender mainstreaming is being made by Makoni and Mutare RDC Gender Focal Persons.

Evidence Please provide evidence of this engagement, for example a quote from a Councillor in another COE.- 100 words

Makoni and Mutare R D C’s Gender Focal Persons attending a Workshop.

Sustainability and replication How can the COE work be sustained within your organisation? Even when Gender Links moves away from assisting council, council’s human resources have been capacitated in terms of documentation, networking, exposure and improved usage of computers and power point presentations. Council can conduct in service training to its staff. Monitoring and evaluation

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as a process can assist council in future and correct and adjust were necessary.

Policies have been put in place and can be reviewed periodically. The current staff if it resigns has capacitated junior staff on working under pressure as Gender Links is good on meeting deadlines. Competitions through districts, national and regional forums have sustainability with any other development partner.

Revolving Women’s Fund will go a long way in economically empowering women in the district as bigger projects can be embarked upon.

Provision of lunch is on-going as human resources continue to execute council functions as outlined in the First Schedule of the R D C Act

How can the COE work be cascaded to other Councils? How can your Council contribute to the cascading process?

Best practices for the district can be replicated by all other councils in Zimbabwe as they are service organisations according to the RDC Act chapter 29:13 and the Urban Councils Act Chapter 29: 15.

Vast plantations are within some districts in the country. Feasibility studies can be done by other councils and utilize available resources for value addition according to ZIM_ASSET blue print. Councils can establish timber processing plant and improve them economically and create jobs to their communities.

Councils have the following forums where personnel exchange notes: CEO’s, Treasurers Auditors and Engineers. These can be used to cascade the centres of excellence process. Manicaland Province has formed the Provincial Gender Forum were issues related to gender are discussed.

300 words

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