BY NOKUTHABA DLAMINI
Victoria Falls City Council has conferred its deputy mayor Patria Mwale with alderwoman status in recognition of her 18 years of
service.
The symbolic title was conferred on Tuesday during a full council meeting, making Mwale the fifth alder in Victoria Falls after Roy Dube, Nkosinathi Jiyane, Josephat Sipulila Mpofu and Enoch Sibanda.
“After serving the council faithfully since 2003, the council has resolved in terms of Section 106 of the Urban Councils Act to bestow the deputy mayor Patricia Mwale with the alderman status,” minutes of the council meeting say.
Jiyane was conferred last year in November, after serving from 2001 to 2013 where he chaired the United Nations World Tourism
Organisation general assembly held in Victoria Falls.
For one to be bestowed with the position of alderman,they should have served the local authority for eight years for mayors and 10
years for councillors.
Their duty from time to time, is to attend community engagements and they also take part in civil ceremonies.
“While the role of the alderman is one of the civic honours that the council can give a person, there are really no financial
benefits to it,” the local authority’s chamber secretary Kholwani Mangena said.
“The role is merely symbolic.
“It does not come with allowances, and it cannot be passed on or inherited.”