Bulawayo’s Ward 13 an ‘Ideas Workshop’ Achievement

Inspired by the training, Councillor Lot Siziba is now engaging his community and assisting them to create self-help projects.

Ward 13, which includes Iminyela and Mabutweni townships, is mostly composed of the widows, unemployed youths and the aged. Councillor Lot Siziba told ZDDT News that he has already mobilised his constituency to establish a Flea Market to boost the morale through self-help projects, such as selling second hand clothes and establishing car wash outlets.

“I am involving youths because, if they are not motivated, they will end up involving themselves in crime related issues, thereby giving their grandparents more stress, than relief,” said Councillor Siziba.

Above: Clr Lot Siziba captured during an interview with Chrispen Tabvura ZDDT Corresponedent at the Mabutweni Arts Arena councillor Lot Siziba.

He also told ZDDT News that he is proud of having the deaf and disabled in his projects, a rare phenomenon in most of wards. “I am proud that, after grasping new ideas, from our recent workshop, I was able to convince the deaf community to join my developmental activities. In answer to Council’s request for payment for the surveying of our project site, they also contributed.”

The constituency has more than 1000 old people and about 500 unemployed youths, many of whom are eager to work with the Councillor. Most of the youth’s are doing menial jobs in the neighbouring South Africa and Botswana, but failing to raise enough income to look after their families back home.

ZDDT’s recently ended workshop that Councillor Siziba attended, delivered very important subjects matter including The Effective Ward Councillor, The Role of the Ward Councillor, Community Leadership,  Representing Local Voices, Understanding Your Ward, Communicating and Influencing and The Art of Delegation.

This is another success story marking the continuation of promising results from recent ZDDT training.