Mlilo is one of eight female councilors who were elected councilors on an MDC-T ticket during last year’s general elections.
“Out of the 29 wards in the city, only eight of the councilors are women yet issues of service delivery affect more women than men mostly.
“When we try to raise these issues in council sometimes we are not taken seriously because our male colleagues do not understand them properly,” said Mlilo in an interview with The Zimbabwean.
Mlilo said she and her female colleagues had been heckled and booed on several occasions while contributing debate in council.
Her ward covers Njube, Old Lobengula and Lobengula extension high density suburbs, some of the poorest in Bulawayo. Mlilo said as part of her programme of action to develop the ward, she has introduced a culture of community voluntarism and income generating projects.
She has also adopted zero tolerance on littering in the ward.
“In order to achieve my set targets and goals, I have formed a Community Action Team in my ward. I want to embrace every stakeholder in my endeavor to develop the ward. I am very pleased with the selfless commitment of my team,” said Mlilo.
The councilor said the community volunteers were spearheading development projects in their neighborhoods.
With the assistance of local developmental partners such as the Catholic Relief Service and the Zimbabwe Development Democracy Trust
(ZDDT) the councilor said she and the community action team have managed to set up a sewing project for women and a nutritional garden for the elderly and people living with HIV.
“There are a lot of women and children headed families in the ward,” she said.
Seven members of the community action team have also been trained on repairing sewerage pipe bursts through the support of ZDDT.
According to the councilor, dumping of soiled disposable nappies is also one of the major challenges grappling with the ward.
“Recently I launched a cleanliness campaign on disposable nappies targeting mothers and other litter. Littering is a big problem in my ward. Some mothers dump used nappies in the middle of the suburbs.
Some of the nappies are even left at the roadside during the night” said the councilor who is married with three children. Mlilo said she does not find any problems in balancing her family and civic roles.
“My husband and family understand the nature of my responsibilities very well. Residents have on numerous occasions come to my place at odd hours seeking various assistance. Where I can, I have tried to assist. It’s always not easily to be balance the two roles,” she said.
Mlilo said her wish is to see the increase of more women voices in councils and parliament in the next election.
The other seven Bulawayo city council female councilors are Sithabile Mataka, Thabitha Ngwenya, Shilla Masonda and Gladys Masuku who represent wards 2, 6, 8 and 10, respectively.
Wards 18, 23 and 29 are respectively represented by Cecilia Mlalazi, Thobani Ncube and Monica Lubimbi.
Post published in: News