MP challenges women

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BULAWAYO Metropolitan MP Dorothy Bhebhe has said women in the city should be at the forefront of developmental programmes for them to be empowered.

BULAWAYO Metropolitan MP Dorothy Bhebhe has said women in the city should be at the forefront of developmental programmes for them to be empowered.

LINDA CHINOBVA OWN CORRESPONDENT

Speaking at a gender policy dialogue meeting organised by the Zimbabwe Coalition on Debt and Development (Zimcodd), Bhebhe said Bulawayo women were passive in developmental issues resulting in their underdevelopment.

“As women there is need for us to be active and take part in developmental programmes within the city. We tend to be passive and as a result that is why we are underdeveloped,” Bhebhe said.

She said it was every woman’s duty to initiate their empowerment by being active citizens in empowerment projects in the city.

Speaking at the same event, Zimcodd committee member Nkosenhle Sibanda said in as much as women were responsible for their empowerment, the government must use tax money to enhance developmental projects that empower women.

“In as much as we hope and wish that the women take part of the developmental projects in the city, it all goes back to the government which is failing to use tax money wisely for promoting women,” said Sibanda.

“The government must use the tax money that they collect from citizens on a monthly basis to promote developmental projects that would empower women,” Sibanda said.

He said tax money that the government collected from citizens should be allocated to cater for their social economic rights.

“The money that the government collects from us must be allocated to cater for the social economic rights of the citizens that have been enshrined in the new Constitution,” he said.

“Special treatment must be allocated to women’s health as women cannot easily access medical treatment without money upfront and as a result, Zimbabwe has a high infant mortality rate. It is that money that should cater for those women who cannot afford to pay their hospital bills.”