A Day with a Charming Councillor

The old saying goes, ‘educate a woman and the whole family and nation is looked after,’ - it certainly is the best way to describe Councillor Monica Lubimbi.

Hosted by ZDDT, and in partnership with KAF, all 29 Councillors were invited to a workshop to educate local leaders on community based skills.

ZDDT News Correspondent and Senior Journalist Chrispen Tabvura (CT) talked to one such person, Monica Lubimbi (ML) an example of a successful product moulded by the ZDDT KAF partnership.

CT: Good day Mama Councillor Lubimbi.

ML: Good day my son, how are you? You seem to be in a jovial mood.

CT: Yes Mama, I am glad to meet a mother who has the capacity to change the world.

ML: Yes Chris; women are capable of formatting all discords and build a better environment for the family and the community at large.

CT: I am also glad to hear the Magwegwe North and west community reminding each other and even visiting each other reminding one another of paying off their bills. How did you convince them to adopt that idea?

ML: As I told you before, educate a woman and you will discover that you will have empowered your family and community. From the people based community leadership skills I acquired from the September workshop, I learnt good communication skills which I put into practice. Here we are Chris; I have managed to break the evil barrier that affected our City Council. People are now in a position to know why it’s important to pay bills.

CT: How did you begin this long journey?

ML: Like I told you, my strength was moulded by the September forum at the Museum, where I learnt on how to approach my community that I lead. I also learnt to be humble and accommodative, which is why they came to understand me and believe in what I tell them. I have learnt of communicating in a motherly manner which is always the way to a better and informed family like my Ward 29. I told them that, by paying off bills, Council will be in a better position to deliver the much anticipated service.

CT: From the look of the situation, I can see Ward 29 paying off all their outstanding bills from the way they remind each other.

ML: Yes Chris my son. That is what I want to see happening for our council to be one of the best in Zimbabwe. ZDDT has been the avenue of life improvement for some of us, as we have discovered the secret of leadership that can lift us up to the top.

CT: Given the opportunity, what level of leadership ideas do you think you can offer for the council?

ML: I am capable of leading the council and the community of Bulawayo at large, with the skills I acquired from ZDDT. I am even feeling much confident than before, and that I can be their developmental leader.

CT: I wish you the best Mama and also may you take your campaign to other wards and use the same magic in your words to change the negative mentality.

ML: I will do my son if empowered with capacity and also I am a loving mother who will want the nation to learn and benefit from ZDDT’s exquisite moulding institute.

CT: Thank you Mama, wishing you a happy Christmas and a prosperous 2015.

ML: Same to you my son. Please don’t forget to tell Angela that I am coming to collect cleaning equipment to start the festive cleanup campaign.

CT: I will do that without failure, Mama.