Dlamini Zuma unveils tool to empower women and enhance local development

DURBAN - Co-operative Governance and Traditional Affairs Minister Dr Nkosazana Dlamini Zuma has unveiled a groundbreaking framework that is expected to enhance local development and unlock economic empowerment opportunities for women at municipal level.

Dubbed the African Charter on the Values and Principles of Decentralisation, Local Governance and Local Development, the framework was signed in Durban yesterday.

This follows the “Presidential Minute and the Instrument of Full Powers, which grants the Minister of CoGTA with Full Powers to sign, subject to ratification of the charter”.

The charter is a framework within which countries are to develop their own decentralisation regulatory framework based on decentralisation principles, Cogta spokesperson Lungi Mtshali said.

According to article 15 of the charter:

• Local government or local authorities shall integrate gender, youth and disability issues in the overall process of formulating policy, planning for development and providing services, as well as in implementing, monitoring and evaluating development programmes and projects.

• Local governments or local authorities shall promote and ensure the equal and effective participation of women, youth and people with disability in public life, leadership and management positions on all matters relating to local governance and local development.

• Local governments or local authorities shall promote and increase participation of women, youth and people with disability in all matters relating to local governance and local development.

“It is great that we are launching this charter during a month when we celebrate the contribution of women who bravely occupied the front lines of the liberation Struggle. This struggle for women to have full participation in all areas of human endeavour, be it political, economic, social, academic, judiciary, scientific, research, cultural to name but a few,” said Dlamini Zuma.

She added that the signing of the charter was an important milestone in fulfilling the aspirations and developmental ambitions of people.

“For us this instrument is critical to the realisation and harmonisation of local action with national, regional and continental plans including Agenda 2063. The Africa We Want and the Africa Continental Free Trade Area,” she said.

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