A survey conducted by the Community Youth Development Trust (CYDT) between April and May 2026 reveals a growing presence of women in local development and service delivery processes across the districts where CYDT implemented its activities.
The findings point to a significant shift in women’s participation in local governance. Women who participated in CYDT activities are increasingly moving into spaces where community priorities, public services and local development decisions are discussed, with growing confidence to engage authorities and demand accountability and transparency.
The survey covered CYDT’s areas of work in Gwanda, Mangwe and Beitbridge, with more than 50% of respondents from Gwanda, followed by Mangwe and Beitbridge. Women constituted approximately 45% of the survey respondents, providing a substantial basis for understanding their experiences and participation in local governance.
The findings show that women are increasingly engaging directly with local authorities. Nearly 50% of respondents reported having interacted directly with local government officials during the previous 12 months, including District Development Coordinators, Rural District Council officials and ward councillors. For women participating in these engagements, such interactions provide opportunities to raise concerns about services, local development priorities and issues affecting their communities.
Women’s participation was particularly evident at grassroots level through Ward Development Committee and Village Development Committee meetings. Others participated in local council budget hearings and council sessions, giving them opportunities to follow decisions and raise questions about how local resources and services are being managed.
The survey also shows that women’s participation is increasingly focused on accountability and service delivery. Women have raised concerns around water supply, refuse collection, roads, drainage, street lighting and other services that directly affect their communities. Their involvement demonstrates a growing willingness to question gaps between commitments made by local authorities and services experienced by residents.
This represents an important change in the nature of participation. Women are not only entering governance spaces; they are increasingly using those spaces to ask questions, seek information and demand explanations from duty-bearers.
CYDT’s Young Women’s Forums, Voices Fora, local governance engagements, civic education activities and other community platforms contributed to creating opportunities for women to develop the confidence and knowledge required to participate in these processes.
The survey nevertheless identified continuing barriers, including limited access to local government budgets and strategic plans, persistent cultural expectations and institutional limitations that can affect meaningful participation. These challenges demonstrate that increasing women’s presence in governance spaces must be accompanied by continued efforts to make those spaces accessible, responsive and transparent.
For CYDT, this is an important indication that creating sustained opportunities for women’s participation can contribute to a stronger culture of transparency, accountability and citizen engagement in local governance.
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