Stories of change: Women in local government

Traditionally there have been low levels of women participating in politics in Southern Africa. Thanks to the Connecting the Dots projects, women in Eswatini and Zambia have found their voice and are becoming more confident to become councillors and senior officers in local governments.

Networks for Women in Local Government and Young Women in Local Government have been set up in both countries. One of the key strategies they have adopted is to advocate for 50/50 representation of women and men. So far, the project has succeeded in increasing women’s political representation in local government by 15 per cent.

“The Jo Cox Project has really been an eye opener for me because It provided a platform to see how those before me has sacrificed their energy in making sure that gender equality is promoted at all levels. Learning from their experiences motivated me to do more and be part and parcel of this great movement.”

                                                                          Cllr Angela Kayekesi, Zambia

Thanks to the training sessions, networking and mentoring sessions that the project has held, many of the participants have developed leadership skills, and their confidence and understanding of the role of local government has increased as evidenced in the following Stories of Change.

Eswatini

Learning through mentoring
Becoming a mentor as part of the Connecting the Dots project has been an eye-opener for accountant Joyce Kumalo, from Manzini City Council, Eswatini. She says that the experience has been a learning curve for herself as well as her mentee and helped her problem-solving skills both professionally and at home.
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The only way is up for Bongekhile
Bongekhile Mkhandvo, already successful in middle management as an environmental officer for Pigg’s Peak Town Council, Eswatini, is now on her way to the top thanks to the mentoring on leadership and project management she received as part of the Connecting the Dots project. She is now running a local economic development project to boost the town’s economy and has set up a housing project to help low-income families.
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Inspiring young women to break through into politics
Recognising that something needed to be done to get more women into local politics, Cllr Makhandaye Gugu from Siteki Council, Eswatini, has become a role model for young people. She joined the Connecting the Dots project to mentor young women and encourage them to break through into politics, but it has also made her realise the mountain they have to climb.
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Rewards of mentoring
Thabile Ndlovu, an executive officer at Manzine Municipal Council, Eswatini has found the experience of mentoring as part of the Connecting the Dots project very rewarding and inspiring. She is proud of her mentee who, originally a volunteer at the council, has followed Thabile’s advice, and gained the confidence to apply for a scholarship and start on the road to achieve her ambition of a degree in psychology.
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Setting new goals
By offering to be a mentor and share her skills, accountant Annah Mbingo has not only set her young entrepreneur mentee on the right track, but has found the experience invaluable in managing her own life, and setting new personal and business goals.
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Zambia

Political power for positive change
Lufwanyama District, the largest district in Zambia, is also one of the poorest but with great potential thanks to its natural resources. After a a five-year term as a councillor, Annie Kapandula has fought prejudice to become the first female mayor of the district. Through the Connecting the Dots project she has learned how to raise her profile and stand her ground. She now has big plans for making improvements to education, health, unemployment and infrastructure to bring about positive change.
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Doing it for themselves
Community-minded Cllr Elizabeth Mulenga has been a councillor in Luanshya, Zambia, for ten years, deputy mayor and leader of her political party as well as being a teacher and running her own business. A strong voice on women’s issues, Elizabeth sees good leadership as key to promoting local economic development and tackling poverty through mobilising people to change things for themselves. Thanks to the Connecting the Dots project, she is now getting more young women interested in politics and changing traditional attitudes to the roles of men and women ands helped many families become more prosperous.
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Breaking through the glass ceiling
Despite a difficult background and challenges faced as a woman, Exildah Anayawa Kabutu, Deputy Council Secretary, Lukulu Town Council, Zambia, has risen to a top job at Lukulu Town Council. A leading light in public administration and management, she is advocating for more women to follow in her footsteps. Getting involved in the Connecting the Dots project has enabled her to share her experiences with a network of like-minded women and use her skills to mentor other women trying to break through to higher positions in local administration.
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A motivating experience
A keen sports enthusiast, Cllr Angela Kayekesi has worked tirelessly in the community promoting gender equality and encouraging women to take more interest in women’s issues. Being involved in the Connecting the Dots project and learning the experiences of other women has spurred Angela’s motivation to take this work forward and make changes at the grassroots level to transform the community she represents.
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Whole community approach to achieving 50-50
Elizabeth Nachisambwe has been politically active in her community for many years. Frustrated at the lack of progress on gender issues, she joined the Connecting the Dots project which has reinvigorated her vision for gender equality and led her to the a whole community approach to ensure that men as well as women understand their rights and responsibilities and work towards 50-50 per cent representation.
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