2015 SADC GENDER PROTOCOL SUMMIT AND AWARDS

GENDER CHAMPION APPLICATION

This award recognises the Drivers of Change across all target groups (civil society, faith based organisations, government, local government and the media) who have championed the SADC Gender Protocol at local and/or national level and can show evidence of results. The application must be accompanied by evidence to support the work undertaken by the leader.

NB Leaders may nominate themselves.Please click on the relevant option*

Self-nomination√Third party nomination(where someone else nominates the leader)

GENDER CHAMPION’S PROFILE *Title of best practice FORMATION OF RUWA JUNIOR COUNCILPresenter Name Surname

MEMORY MARY BADZAWho you represent Organisation Designation

RUWA LOCAL BOARD BUILDING INSPECTORSex (tick) Male Female

√Country ZIMBABWEE Mail memory.badza@yahoo.comCell phone +263773372414Sector

LOCAL GOVERNMENTNo of years in leadership

15 years

Formal leadership training

Formal

Details of training Tertiary

Referees Name Designation Cell phone no

Gender Aware Leadership Score – self assessed.

80%

PRESENTATION OF THE GOOD PRACTISE

Quotable quotes*

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People can only change when rightfully informed and it is very crucial for people to fully understand what they should adopt in their beliefs and lives.

It is very hard to believe that I once vowed never to allow women to participate in decision making processes, now I am the gender focal person in my council.

You don’t have to smell change or hear of change, but, you must feel it.

Short story about your most memorable experience in your work as a leader*Oscar Tsvuura is a driver of change for Ruwa Local Board. This is evident by the personal change from being a serious advocate for some cultural and religious beliefs that women are and should remain second class citizens, to being a driver for gender equality.

Today Oscar is the Gender Focal Person for our council and he is performing this role with such zeal and passion. He has played an active role in spearheading various empowerment projects namely:

Construction of flea markets Establishment of Ruwa Junior Council 50-50 campaign for gender equality He is also the coordinator for Ruwa schools.

Gender equality issues used to be viewed very negatively at our institution. One incident comes to mind. Tenders were invited for the construction of Ruwa Polyclinic. One company submitted a tender under the name Alice Construction. Our council has two females in senior management positions viz the Chief Executive Officer and Finance Director. As the tender report was being presented to council, one councillor started an uproar as he commented ,” these women are at it again , now they want to award such a big tender to Alice, a woman for that matter.” As he said these words he was frothing at the mouth and pointing fingers directly at the female managers.

This is just how negative the perception on gender equality in leadership and employment was then viewed within council. Policy makers had reservations even in accepting employment of women in previously male dominated fields.

Having to impart knowledge and understanding of gender issues from such a background has been a formidable task. This bumpy road has had to be travelled because people can only change when rightfully informed and , it is very crucial for people to fully understand what they should adopt in their beliefs and lives. A short history of the leader *Oscar is an Administration Officer at Ruwa Local Board. The job has multiple roles viz public relations and human resources issues. He is a family man with two daughters and a son. This family set up coupled with Gender Links training propelled him to change his perception on women. His whole focus shifted to making a brighter future for his wife and daughters thus effectively working to drive institutional and social policies towards gender equality.

Oscar’s involvement in gender work started when as the Public Relations Officer he came into contact with Gender Links. The training from Gender Links opened up his views on gender issues. What started off as a mere duty slowly changed into a passion. Coupled with administrative duties this role as Gender Focal

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Person has worked well as an instrument to achieve equal representation of women and men at all levels of employment. We have seen this gender drive effectively cascading to all employment levels in the organisation through the seconding of Departmental Gender Focal Persons. This has worked well in motivating employees to embrace gender issues hence voices are heard from the lowest level upwards.

As administration Officer several gender based challenges are encountered in the day to day duties . At one point an employee’s wife came to dump their baby in the office as a way of expressing anger at the father who was not providing for his child. Because of lack of training and personal views at the time, this incident became difficult to handle.

To ensure the youth are also represented in policy making, he has managed to set up a vibrant Ruwa Junior Council. This Junior Council is actively involved in community related issues as well as ensuring that young voices are heard when decisions affecting their future are passed in council.

Oscar remarks,” It is hard to believe that I once vowed never to allow women to participate in decision making processes , now I am the Gender Focal Person in my council.”

ObjectivesThe personal mission statement is to see all marginalised groups rise up and embrace the strides being made to advance gender issues. All women and the youth should take up a stance to ensure that their voices are heard at all social , economic , political , cultural and religious platforms. This can only be achieved through equal representation and participation in the various empowerment activities within their locality. Policies that support gender equality must be put in place and receive adequate financial support to make them a reality.

People have to accept to change their mindsets and embrace gender equality. You don’t have to smell or hear change, but, you must feel it. By feeling it you would have allowed change to take place within you.

The greatest goal is to facilitate active participation of women and youth in programs that advance their causes.

Key activitiesThe process is premised on the notion that the youth are our future. What are the young people doing to contribute to the future? Have they been afforded the opportunity to speak on issues that affect them directly?

Schools in Ruwa’s area of jurisdiction were approached to identify lower sixth students for selection into the junior council. The schools were provided with a hand out on Ruwa at a glimpse that they used to set questions for the students to undergo pre-selection interviews at their schools.

The criteria for pre-selection included the following: The student had to be smart, disciplined and knowledgeable about

their school and Ruwa in general.

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Be a bona fide resident of Ruwa and be a lower sixth student at their respective schools.

Show genuine concern for the Ruwa community. Display leadership qualities. Be willing to dedicate time to the demanding program.

The recruitment was proportionally based on the school enrolment. Each school provided a mentor to work with council in this process. Such mentors then came together with the Junior Council coordinator and the Alderman of Harare Junior Council to draft up the Junior Council constitution. This constitution has since been adopted by the Senior Council.

Interviews were then held to select sixteen Junior Council members . The successful students were then sent to a four day boot camp for training on leadership and team building skills.

With skills acquired from the boot camp, the councillors then held an induction meeting with members of the senior council. This was followed by a swearing in ceremony and elections for committee chairpersons and appointment of management team.

Resource mobilisation *

Amount local currency (specify) USD

Amount in Rand

Explanation

Gender specific allocation (gender awareness)

5 000 42 500 Allocated for gender support activities

Gender in mainstream projects (Junior Council)

14 100 119 850 Support activities for junior council

Amount contributed in cash or in kind by partner organisations (please specify)

TOTAL 19 100 162 350

Key challengesKey challenges involved in this process included:

The Junior Council took long to set up since there was no prior experience and case studies had to be done first before establishing our own.

The program also took long to get council to buy into the idea since the benefits of the junior council were not fully appreciated by many.

The process generated a lot of debate even on trivial issues like whether the junior councillors be selected from school leavers with a cut off on age or school going Ruwa youth. Finally it was agreed that current lower sixth students be considered as their behaviour and general conduct can be

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easily monitored by their school authorities. They were deemed to have more discipline since they had not yet had exposure to the outside world.

Ruwa has limited formal schools and several private schools whose greatest enrolment are students resident elsewhere. Their commitment to Ruwa civic issues was therefore questionable. This was addressed by incorporating students from Goromonzi High school since most Ruwa based families send their children there for higher learning.

Boys who had successfully gone through selection interviews had to be dropped to make way for their female counterparts so as to achieve some gender balance. This tended to affect the morale of those left out.

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Results *

Change at the individual level*Championing gender issues has been life changing in that you begin to view life in a different perspective. The training Gender Links provides has been an eye opener that completely changes the mindset on the beliefs and ethics that one was accustomed to. You begin to appreciate the different groups you live and work with everyday. You begin to realise that there is more to life than the gender divide and that we are all capable of producing the desired results regardless of gender.

The family factor has also contributed in this gender drive since he is also now driven by the passion to see his two daughters get fair and just treatment, be afforded equal opportunities in education and employment and not be taken for granted due to gender discrimination.

Mrs Molly Chikwangwadze an Accountant at Ruwa Local Board who attends the same church where Oscar is a pastor had this to say. “Our local pastor has embraced gender equality to such an extent that women in our church can now actively participate in the decision making processes at church. “

Misheck Magumise a Rose of Sharon High School student who is school headboy and junior councillor says , “ My leadership experience in council has taught me to be both a problem finder and a solution giver. My love for people grew rapidly. You cannot be a leader for the people chosen by the people and have no love for the people. This experience in the junior council has greatly changed my life”

Change at institutional level*As administration Officer the change in his lifestyle has made him specifically invite female applicants in previously male dominated fields. It is now standard policy that all our advertisements for vacancies clearly state and encourage female applicants. The establishment of the junior is one innovation that he spearheaded in the institution.

This institution has now heeded the call to finalise all policies that were still draft documents. Several other policies have had to be amended to incorporate the gender aspect.

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The Ruwa Junior Council spearheaded a clean up campaign that was well received by residents and changed many individual perceptions on council activities . This campaign brought much needed financial relief to council in that an arm of council spearheaded and implemented one aspect of service delivery . Mr Last Tembedza a Health Promoter at Ruwa Local Board says,” This program was an eye opener to residents that we have a junior council and response from residents was overwhelming as they also came to join in this noble cause.”

Change at the community level *The junior council has had an impact on the community through various activities they undertook during their reign. These included:

The Miss and Mr Ruwa pageant to raise funds for donations to disadvantaged children. So far Rose of Sharon School benefitted from this initiative.

Chiremba Primary School also received a podium donated after fund raising activities by the junior council.

The clean up campaign with emphasis on the 3 R’s i.e reduce , reuse , recyle. This campaign worked in both cleaning up a busy shopping centre in Ruwa as well as educating the community on the importance of the 3R’s.

Participation on the national tree planting day.

The junior council made a donation to Rose of Sharon Orphanage. This was a life changing gesture as their efforts were well appreciated by the beneficiaries.

Dr Fatima Maruta founder and president of Rose of Sharon Welfare Organisation says ,” We of Rose of Sharon Welfare Organisation deeply value your sense of commitment to the Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) and are most thankful that you came to our support at such a time as this , when our nation is reeling under difficult economic conditions. We would like to say thank you most profoundly to our worship the Junior Mayor and his councillors for the short in the arm for us during your tenure. We will forever cherish and continue to count on your support.”

Change at the societal level *The schools in our area of jurisdiction have received with great enthusiasm the formation of the junior council. This has brought greater awareness of civic issues to the schools . They have been supporting their junior councillors by funding their various needs that include

Contributing financially towards the boot camp Provision of transport to and from council meetings Allowing them time to attend council programs and meetings

In order to be able to cater for the above issues these schools have also had to include the junior council program in their school budgets. Given the successes achieved by the current junior council , the schools have also incorporated civic education in their curriculum as a way of preparing students for the next junior council selection. The founder and president of Rose of Sharon Welfare Organisation testified that the opportunity afforded their student to join the junior council has exposed his great leadership skills.

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Dr Fatima Maruta says , “ The junior council training and activities have really groomed our headboy into a great leader. Every day he is talking to his fellow students imparting knowledge and skills on leadership. He has built up his confidence and respect and goes about his day to day activities with focus and commitment. We have already started grooming our next councillors for this was a transformational tool.”

Capacity building*The junior council was taken on a four day boot camp that trained them on several aspects including:

Grooming and deportment Trust and communication Team building and bonding Conflict management/resolution Time management and planning Community projects and smart partnerships Motivation Corporate social responsibility

This training armed them with the necessary skills to go out and be effective leaders in society upholding personal and social values such as:

Team work How to deal with pride Trust Honesty and openness (transparency) Love and acceptance of other peoples values and ideas Planning and leadership

Amongst the junior councillors who underwent training was Tapiwa Mjawe. Her sentiments about the impact the boot camp had on her life were and I quote:

The boot camp for councillors was the most important life changing experience as it was a platform for grooming in the form of high physical training , confidence creation , team work , awareness of problems around the society but most importantly acknowledgement , appreciating and thanking God in all we do.It was a memory never to be forgotten as I got to know my greater purpose and talking skills. We also learnt as leaders how to turn each other’s weaknesses into strengths. We learnt that a team comprises different people with different backgrounds , morals and values brought together by one goal to be achieved.”

Lessons learned and shared *Challenges were faced during inception of the junior council. This was particularly so since this was a new concept being introduced to council. The major reservation was on what benefit such a setup would have to the council . This challenge was overcome by undertaking case studies and providing evidence on the success stories of other junior councils.

The challenge was quickly overcome by allowing the junior council to engage in community programs that got the appraisal of senior council within a short

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period. This resulted in the program getting total support and appreciation of their efforts.

The major lesson learned by the formation of the junior council was that the youth can actively participate in community issues if given the chance/platform . We also learned that they are more effective in communicating with the fellow youths on programs needing their assistance..Next Steps*The future plans include :

To coordinate and set up a more vibrant junior council that will work together with council to improve our impact on the social lives of the community.

To provide comprehensive training to incoming councillors that will groom them for the challenges they will face during their term of office.

To sustain the life of the junior council and adequately budget for its activities

To work with local schools to identify talent and groom future leaders. To create increased awareness and appreciation of junior council in our

area.

PARTICIPATION DURING NATIONAL TREE PLANTING DAY COMMEMORATIONS.

RUWA JUNIOR COUNCIL

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RUWA TOWN JUNIOR COUNCIL CONSTITUTION 855 CHIREMBA ROAD, POST

OFFICE BOX 153, RUWA

TELEPHONE 0273-2638/9, 3205/2854, FAX 0273-2838

RUWA TOWN COUNCIL ADDRESS ALL CORRESPONDENCE TO THE JUNIOR SECRETARY

CONSTITUTIONAIMSTo provide a means whereby senior scholars may obtain a knowledge of civic affairsTo report back to senior scholars information pertinent to Town Council and civic affairs To create an organization representative of all senior schools within the area of the jurisdiction of the Town CouncilTo create a liaison between the young people of Ruwa and the Town CouncilTo provide the young people of Ruwa with a means by which they may make known their opinions and feelingsBy the example set by the Junior Council to encourage a desire among the younger citizens of Ruwa to participate actively in the affairs of the TownTo create an organization which is involved with the affairs of the young people of Ruwa

TERM IN OFFICE

1. No Junior Councilor shall remain on the Junior Council for a period exceeding one year which year shall commence on the 1st week of June and terminate on the last week of May.

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NEW JUNIOR COUNCILORS

2. (a)A panel shall be convened, comprising three Junior Councilors and three in the month of January of each year to draw a plan for the recruitment selection and training of Prospective Junior Councilors to be implemented in March.(b)The School Heads of senior schools throughout the area under the jurisdiction of the Town Council of Ruwa shall be requested by the Junior Ruwa Council to submit the names of a maximum of ten persons as candidates for election to the position of Junior Councilors. Such persons are to be members of the 5th forms of their respective schools and residing in Ruwa.

NUMBER OF JUNIOR COUNCILORS

3. (a)In accordance with the decisions of the aforesaid Panel, which decision shall be as many new Junior Councilors as are required to fill vacancies, shall be elected. The number of Junior Councilors so elected shall not be less that the number of Wards that are in the area under the jurisdiction of the Ruwa Town Council at that time. This number shall exclude the seven members of the executive committee of the Junior Council.(b)The aforesaid Panel shall keep a list of six “reserve candidates” who can be called upon incases of vacancy in the Junior Council during their year in office subject to the approval of the Junior Town Council, to replace the Junior Councilor who would have departed.

DISCIPLINARY ACTION

4. (a)The Junior Councilor who is subject to disciplinary action shall be given notice in writing, at least seven days before the meeting of the Disciplinary Committee of the nature of the complaints made against him or her.(b) The Junior Councilor, who is subject to discipline shall be permitted to defend himself or herself in person or with another Junior Councilor as spokesperson, and may make both written and oral submissions. Further more the principles of natural justice shall apply to the proceedings of the Disciplinary Committee.(c)The findings of the Disciplinary Committee shall be posed for recommendation to the Junior Council and the Junior Council shall make the final decision, by secret ballot.(d) The decisions of the Junior Council shall be forwarded to the Junior Councilor concerned, their individual school and parents, under the hand of the Junior Chairperson.(e) Whereupon the Junior Chairperson , Junior Deputy Chairperson or the Junior Town Secretary are subject to discipline a written complaint with the support of at least 4 Junior Councilors shall be presented to a Panel of 3 active Junior Alderman and members of the Junior Council Disciplinary Committee.(f)The findings of the convened Disciplinary Committee shall be posed for recommendation to the Junior Town Council, and the Junior Town Council shall make the final decision by secret ballot.(g) The decisions of the Junior Council shall be forwarded to the individual concerned their respective school and parents, under the hand of the Disciplinary Committee Chairperson, A person holding the highest office in council in the absence of the person facing disciplinary action shall chair the committee.

ELECTIONS OF OFFICE BEARERS

5. (a)At the first meeting in each year the Junior Council elections shall be held for office bearers

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(b) Nominations, which shall be seconded, shall be submitted during the meeting of the Junior Council. No candidate shall nominate himself or herself. Three Junior Councilors and three Junior Alderman shall convene this meeting.(c) A secret ballot shall be held for each position, and a simple majority shall determine the result. In the event of any tie a fresh ballot shall be held until the tie is broken.(d) The ballot for each position shall be in order of:

I. Junior ChairpersonII. Junior Deputy Chairperson

III. Junior Town SecretaryIV. Junior TreasurerV. Junior Public Relations Officer

VI. Junior Projects Coordinator VII. Junior Chief of Committees Clerk

(e) Candidates who are unsuccessful in any ballot may, if their proposer and seconder agree stand for any position below that for which they were nominated for.

APPOINTMENTS

6. (a) The Junior Chairperson shall be :I. Chairperson of all full Junior Council meetings

II. Head of the Junior Council III. Spokesperson for the Junior Council

(b) The Junior Deputy Chairperson shall:I. Deputize the Junior Chairperson

II. Head the disciplinary committee(c) The Junior Town Secretary shall:

I. Prepare the agenda for each formal meetingII. Act in an advisory capacity to the chairperson at formal meetings

III. Be responsible for the distribution of the agenda and the minutesIV. Be the administrative head of Junior Council

(d) The Junior Treasurer shall:I. Control the Junior Council’s finances

II. Ensure that the books of accounts are ready for inspection by the finance committee, any councilor of the Ruwa Town Council or Alderman at all reasonable times

III. Prepare an annual financial auditIV. Ensure that the books of accounts are audited within three months of the

submission of the financial reportV. Arrange the necessary insurance for the Junior Council

(e) The Junior Public Relations Officer shall:I. Inform the media of all the details of the Junior Council and its activities with

the concurrence of the Junior ChairpersonII. Maintain an appointment book for the Junior Chairperson

III. Keep a journal containing all news cuttings and the photograph of the Junior Town Council

IV. Organize photographs of the Junior Town Council and portraits of the Junior Chairperson

V. Be responsible for the formulation and implementation of a media strategy for the Junior Council

(f) The Junior Chief of Committees Clerk shall

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I. Keep a record of all meetings of the Junior Council and the executive committee including a record of attendance

II. Be directly responsible to the Junior Town Secretary(g) The Junior Projects Coordinator shall

I. Plan and prepare schedules of all the projects agreed to by the Junior Council

MEETINGS

7. (a)Special emergency meeting of the Junior Council may be called by the Chairperson or on a written requisition, together with reasons, for such a meeting (b) notice of any meetings, together with reasons for calling that meeting shall be given at least 48 hours before the meeting is due to commence, to all Junior Councilors. The quorum for such a meeting shall be 60 per centum the total number of Junior Councilors

8. (a)The formulation of the committees shall take place at the second formal meeting of the Junior Council in each year(b) There shall be 5 committees namely:

I. Youth activities II. Community affairs

III. General purposeIV. Finance

I. Public relations(c)Each committee shall have a minimum of 4 members; a chairman and a committee clerk shall be elected at the second formal meeting of the Junior Council(d) The quorum for each meeting shall be 2/3 of the number of persons on that committee(e) The Chairman of each committee shall:

I. Keep order at the meetings of the committeeII. Prepare the agenda for each committee

III. Ensure a written report of each committee meeting is forwarded to the Chief of Committees Clerk for circulation

IV. Keep a record of attendance of members at all committee meetings(f) The Committee Clerks shall;

I. Keep a record of the respective committee members II. Be directly responsible to the Chief of Committees Clerk

III. Administer petty cash for that committee(g) Committee meetings shall be held at least once a month and each member of a committee is required to attend all meetings and absence therefrom will be condoned only on good and sufficient reason.(h) Any Junior Councilor can attend any committee meeting, of which they are not a member, as an observer and may contribute to the debate but not vote on any issue.

EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE

9. (a) The Executive Committee shall consist of the Junior Chairperson, Junior Deputy Chairperson, Junior Town Secretary, Junior Treasurer, Junior Public Relations Officer, Junior Projects Coordinator, Junior Chief of Committee Clerk.(b) The Executive Committee is to make decisions on emergency matters that arise between council meetings but which matters do not necessitate the calling of a full council meeting.(c) The quorum of the executive committee shall be five.(d) The Junior Town Secretary shall report at the next Junior Council meeting on the nature of any decisions so taken at any executive committee meetings

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(e) Each member of the Executive Committee shall be responsible to one other committee as follows:

I. Youth Affairs : Junior ChairpersonII. H.R. General Purpose : Junior Town Secretary

III. Finance : Junior TreasurerIV. Public Relations : Junior Public Relations OfficerV. Community affairs : Junior of Committees Clerk

(f) No member of the executive committee shall be a chairperson or committee clerk of any other committee but may have an ordinary vote at such other committee meetings

MINUTES

10. (a) The Chief of Committee Clerk shall keep minutes of formal meetings with the aid of a secretary to be appointed by him/her.(b) Copies of the minutes of all formal meetings shall be sent to all Junior Councilors, Junior Alderman and Senior Council.(c) All minutes shall be submitted for confirmation at the next Junior Councilors’ meeting or the appropriate committee, and shall be signed by the person presiding thereat.

AGENDA11. (a)The Junior Town Secretary shall, prior to a formal meeting of the Junior Council draw up

an agenda which shall be sent to all Junior Councilors and Junior Alderman together with the minutes of the previous general meeting and other reports at least two days before the meeting is due to commence.(b)All committee meetings shall have an agenda, which shall be circulated to the chairperson of all the other committees, whose responsibility it will be to ensure that members are informed of forthcoming meetings and the content.

FINANCE12. (a)All withdrawals from the Junior Council’s banking account must be made with the

minimum of three signatories, which signatories shall be two Junior Councilors (who shall be nominated by the Junior Council) and one member of the Junior Alderman(b) All financial transactions must be approved by the Junior Chairperson in advance.(c)In the event of an emergency, which shall be decided by the Junior Chairperson, a maximum amount agreed by the presiding Junior Council at their second meeting may be withdrawn without prior Junior Council sanction.(d) In an event that the Junior Council deciding to assist a charitable institution, then donations solely in the form of goods or services are permitted.(e)All funds belonging to the Junior Council shall be kept at a banking institute agreed to by the presiding Junior Council.(f)The Junior Treasurer may keep a maximum sum of money only agreed to at the Junior Council’s second meeting.(g)The Junior Town Council may engage in fund raising activities and solicit sponsorship in order to support itself financially

JUNIOR ALDERMAN

13. (a) The provision of this section shall come into effect after the 1st of January 2015(b)The Junior Council shall recommend as Junior Alderman those Junior Councilors who have served the Junior Council for a period of not less than twelve months after their term in office expires.

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(c)Nominations for the position of Junior Alderman may be made from the Junior Council, but the discretion whether to award this honor to any particular Junior Councilor shall rest with the Junior Alderman’s body.(d)Should a Junior Alderman decide to retire from office s/he may still continue to attend Junior Council meetings and contribute only in writing to debate through the Junior Chairperson.(e)The Junior Alderman’s constitution and code of conduct shall govern the Junior Alderman’s conduct.

RESPONSIBILITIES OF JUNIOR ALDERMAN

14. (a) The duties of the Ruwa Town Council Junior Alderman shall also include:I. Advisory duties to the Ruwa Town Junior Council

II. common law and judiciary dutiesIII. shaping and maintaining normsIV. providing direction and long term strategic directionV. providing standards and control mechanisms

VI. mobilizing and managing resourcesVII. protecting the organization

VIII. evaluating the presiding members and selecting skills and technologies that the organization can adopt

IX. identifying stakeholders

Constitution subject to amendment at the expiry of every 12 months of the Junior Council’s term of office.

DONATIONS TO ROSE OF SHARON WELFARE ORGANISATION

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BOOT CAMP TRAINING

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