Dumisani Noel Ncube.
Traditional leaders in Bubi District have reaffirmed the need to create more inclusive local governance systems that ensure women, youth and persons with disabilities (PWDs) have meaningful opportunities to participate in decision-making processes.
The call was made during a Traditional Leaders Gender Inclusion Training convened by Habakkuk Trust in Bubi District. The training brought together traditional leaders and elected local leaders to strengthen their understanding of inclusive and participatory leadership and to explore practical approaches for increasing the participation of marginalised groups in local governance.
A key issue emerging from the discussions was that the presence of women in community meetings does not always translate into meaningful participation. One Village Head observed that although women attend meetings, their views and contributions are often undervalued. Participants noted that this limits women’s ability to influence decisions affecting their communities and highlighted the need to deliberately create spaces where women can speak, contribute and be listened to.
The training also emphasised the importance of engaging young people and PWDs in local-level structures. Traditional leaders were encouraged to use participatory mobilisation approaches that reach beyond established community structures and deliberately identify and include groups that are often left out of decision-making.
Participants further recognised the importance of strengthening collaboration between traditional leaders and elected representatives. Inviting elected leaders to the training created opportunities for cross-learning and strengthened synergies between the two local governance institutions. Such collaboration can support coordinated efforts to ensure that women, youth and PWDs are represented and actively participate in community and local-level structures.
The training also highlighted the need for practical action, including appointing women to leadership positions within community committees, raising awareness on the value of women’s voices, and creating safe and accessible spaces for participation.
Through these efforts, Habakkuk Trust seeks to contribute to local governance systems where inclusion is not merely about attendance, but about ensuring that women, youth and PWDs have a genuine voice and influence in decisions that shape their communities.
