Press silent about women achievements

A few days before the July 30 historic harmonised Presidential and Local Government elections take place, the media in Zimbabwe still remain man~world with little to zero reflection of women's involvement finding its way into the mainstream. This makes one wonder if as a nation we are committed to walking the gender talk and not just window dress and lip~service the participation women in all the structures of society.

Norton Town Council Chairperson, Her Worship Clr Mufahore Precious has dared the odds and rendered selfless service and sacrifice to make her Ward 6 and the entire Norton Town a darling for every Zimbabwean, nor wonder why many candidates have coveted it.

"I can only look back and wish to thank every resident of Norton including those who reside in my Ward 6 for the support they rendered my Council under extremely difficult economic conditions where the majority of Zimbabwean were living under US$1.00 per day for an average family of six", said Mufahore.

Resultantly, most residents in her Ward 6 and the entire town have been unable to pay their rates to Council, a move which made Council to fail to deliver services as per expectation.

"We purchased a 15 tonne tipper, a 15 cubic metre refuse compactor, a motorized water browser, two roller compactors, one for roads and the other for the refuse landfill", added Mufahore.

Meanwhile, her Council is busy fixing tower lights in Katanga, Ngoni, Maridale and other suburbs but has asked patience from the residents since a few tower lights were still being attended to due to logistical challenges which were being caused by the power utility, ZESA, which was still sourcing for the needed electrical components required to do a standard job.

Interestingly, Council she said, had recently partnered a private developer through its green economy investment drive which has seen the solar street lights installation project being rolled out. The mortuary which had been closed up for years was officially opened year~end 2017 while earlier on in the same year her administration commissioned a sewerage treatment plant which was revamped to the tune of US$40k which was generously funded by AUSAID and officially handed over to Norton Town Council by Christina Landsburg on behalf of the Australian Ambassador to Zimbabwe. The same move also saw the construction of modern disability~friendly public toilets at Katanga and Govans including a school toilet catering for both boys and girls at a school in Maridale.

Plans she further hinted, were now at an advanced stage for Council to establish a Water Treatment Plant whilst short~listed companies would be officially advised through the press to submit their bids. The construction of the plant is likely to start in this second half of 2018. Norton residents have been faced with perennial water challenges as most residents were depending on untreated borehole water which in most cases have been alleged to being the reason for typhoid and a few cholera cases among the residents.

"Water scarcity and unsafe and polluted drinking cisterns are a burden to women and the girl~child and that is the reason I fought so hard to have this Water Treatment Plan finally approved since it has been my concern that a lasting solution to the crisis be met by my Council administration here in Norton".

Mufahore has not left out her love for children. She was behind the reigns that revived and rebranded Junior Council and saw children under five accessing free medical treatment at Norton Town Council Hospital while pregnant women now have free antenatal care at their disposal. Another ambulance she added was on the way as her admin had already prioritised the agenda.

Major road rehabilitation projects were conceived and implemented during Mufahore's tenure with other roads still under construction with funds being sourced from a number of partners, including ZINARA which is one among major contributing statutory bodies.

"I have personally worked very hard to make Norton Town so attractive and the darling of many aspiring political candidates and I urge all women to be strong and as is also evident that a woman Chairperson improved the town's roads for the first time since independence as you can all see with our roads, we have been working on them and very soon we will be having standard approved trafficable roads here in Norton".

The Chairperson was optimistic that things will improve as Council was patiently waiting the constitutionally provided for five percent share for local authorities from the national fiscus.

"I would also want to say that I have faith as a woman in the election race and believe the forthcoming elections will be peaceful, free, fair and credible here in Norton and our nation at large. May God richly bless Zimbabwe", said Mufahore.

Clr Mufahore has since thanked the people of Norton including residents from her Ward 6 for the unwavering sacrifice they rendered her in support of her efforts to keep Norton Town ahead of the rest in Zimbabwe despite the challenging socio~economic times.

It is my wish that in the new Zimbabwe the adage 'Behind every successful man, there is a woman' will become obsolete and a new turnaround of gender culture change will supersede so that the truth of the matter becomes 'The face of every successful nation is a woman'.