WODAZ is making strides in empowering women in Gwanda District, Zimbabwe. The organization advocates for women's rights and creates platforms for women to voice their demands around issues like service delivery. WODAZ receives many letters reporting challenges faced by women and girls, and conducts investigations and research in response. It plans to establish women's rights clubs to equip members with community research and mapping skills. Meanwhile, community leaders in Gwanda North Ward 6 have been urged to be more transparent and accountable in order to gain women's trust, as service delivery is collapsing and promises from election campaigns have not been fulfilled. Women want leaders to prioritize service delivery and development projects that benefit women. [END SUMMARY]

1. WOMEN DEVELOPMENT
ASSOCIATION IN ZIMBABWE
Volume 1: Issue 1
Giving women a voice Page 1
WODAZ making strides in Gwanda District
WODAZ continue to assist women to defend, protect and demand their fundamental rights from the community leaders which
has made the organization a household name around the District. So far there is no mention of women rights issues without
giving reference to WODAZ. Women are taking advantage of the organization platforms to explore their demands on service
delivery among other issues that may hinder their progression. It has come to a point that the organization receives
unanimously letters on the challenges faced by women and girls leading to investigations and research on issues raised.
Invitations are flocking the office to have activities done so as to capacitate women at Swereki – BeitBridge East constituency.
For the sustainability of this good reputation, the organization will embark on establishment of Women Rights Holders Clubs
and equip them on community research and community mapping skills so as to help the organization develop community
oriented activities.
Women Calls for Action, transparency & accountability
Gwanda North ward 6 Community leaders have been told to uphold values of
transparency and accountability for them to gain full confidence of the women
and the youth. The demands are coming at time where community leaders
failing to own up to the promises they made during election campaign and at a
time where service delivery is collapsing dismally. Women and the youth want
community leaders especially the elected ones to put their time in good use and
ensure improvement on service delivery and developmental projects that will
realize opportunities to women for enjoyment of their rights. Citizens feel that
there is no unity of purpose among community leaders due to political
differences between elected and traditional leaders hence no support of
developmental project initiated by those deemed to be political rivals. There is
no action and transparency as far as developmental projects is concerned.
Women are denied the right to embark on projects that may see them
benefiting financially by some community leaders.
We condemn the lack of action, transparency and accountability on
critical developmental projects that are central to the goals of uplifting welfare
of women and the youth said Mrs Polina Moyo of Mtshazo Village.
More than 150 women attended a ward based indaba meeting
held at Ward 8 centre in April 2015 to discuss on the
community service delivery needs. The meeting managed to spell out
the challenges faced by the community, among them was the water
challenges at the clinic which have seen pregnant women being forced
to do their washing at the nearby water stream.
However the community felt the local authority is doing little to turn
around the situation considering prolongation of the problem. “It is
disheartening to have this problem taking long to be solved yet there is
Gwanda Community Share Ownership Scheme that specializes in drilling
boreholes and piloting developmental project” said Mrs Nkiwane the
former ward 8 councilor. Majority of women were of the opinion that
community share ownership scheme is not willing to assist them to
eradicate the problem since they have known of this problem and
nothing has been done to address the situation
Gwanda Community Share Ownership Scheme &
its benefits to the community
Women paying attention to District Coordinator…Women affairs

2. WOMEN DEVELOPMENT
ASSOCIATION IN ZIMBABWE
Volume 1: Issue 1
Giving women a voice Page 2
Since its inception, WODAZ has organized innovative
programs across the district to increase the number,
effectiveness and popular support of women civic leaders,
voters and elected leaders in the belief that as more women
become political involved, institutions will become more
responsive to the citizens needs. The organization is
currently working in three districts which are Gwanda North,
central and South, creating programs that are specifically
tailored to women ensuring that women are part of every
existing WODAZ program. It is hoping to spread wings to
other districts within the province in future. At any given time
the organization is advocating for increased women
participation and engagement on governance issues that will
in-turn address socio economic issues. Having noted that
the United Nations has highlighted working with women as
Message from the Director
Amhlophe, congratulations! This is the first issue
of Volume 1 of the WODAZ monthly newsletter
which is the community newsletter produced by
the organization to amplify women voices across
project areas. The newsletter seeks to improve
accessibility of information by rural women and
girls. To add value on the paper please feel free to
contact the director J. Nkiwane on 0773 382 436
or email to julienkiwane1@gmail.com
Or
Programs Officer on 0783204565
Objectives
• To promote and encourage public awareness and
participation by women in local governance issues
• To engage and liase with traditional leaders, church
leaders, councilors and political leaders on issues
affecting women
• To create a platform of debate, discussion and
dialogue on issues of affecting women participation in
decision making
• To facilitate research and dissemination of information
on issues affecting the women guided by the axiom
that information is power
Activities
• Women Community Dialogue Meetings
• Focus Group Meetings
• Capacity Building Training
• Women Round Table meetings/Think Tank meetings
Women, Gender and democracy
“Every country deserves to have the best
possible leader and that means that
women have to be given a chance to
compete. If they’re never allowed to
compete in the electoral process then the
countries are really robbing themselves
of a great deal of talent.”
– Madeleine K. Albright,