Municipality hosted a successful widows summit

Over 80 women were present in the Widows summit which was coordinated by uMfolozi Local Municipality as from 13-15May 2016 in Meet Makaar.

The Municipal Manager of uMfolozi Municipality, Mr KE Gamede mentioned that the concept of having a summit was initiated for a purpose of sharing ideas and experiences on challenges which are being encountered by Widows. He indicated that this Summit should come up with resolutions that will assist the municipality to come up with informed interventions for the development of Widows.

During the summit, the women were given a chance to raise challenges they encounter widows. These issues inlcuded; lack of finance and the custom of ukungena whereby a widow is taken over by the male next-of-kin of her late husband.

The Mayor of uMfolozi Local Municipality, Cllr Smangaliso Mgenge says the summit is a bigger and better part of the municipality’s aim to empower the women. He says the municipality intends seeing  widows going  back to their communities or their wards and organise themselves into co-operatives  instead of working as individuals. The co-operatives must also be registered with the municipality so that their businesses will be exposed to bigger opportunities.

From this summit, one of the resolutions was  to assist and advise widows in the community on how to create their own businesses as well as manage their own finances with the help of stakeholders. This will include equipping them with necessary skills which will help empower them to survive and be head of their households.

 

Widows with uMfolozi Deputy Mayor Cllr Ntshangase, Municipal Manager Mr KE Gamede,

Ukhozi FM’s Themba Khumalo, Pastor T Ngonelo, Prof Q Mkhabela and widows’ chairperson M Khumalo.