A Zimbabwean woman, Josephine Siziba, was recently elected councillor on a Labour Party ticket in Benton Ward, in Newcastle, United Kingdom (UK).
Siziba celebrated her victory with a cultural inauguration ceremony presided over by dethroned Ntabazinduna Chief Nhlanhlayamangwe Ndiweni this weekend.
Speaking in an interview with <a href="https://cite.org.zw/another-zim-woman-elected-ward-councillor-in-the-uk/">CITE</a>, Ndiweni said that the more Zimbabweans are elected to political office around the world, the more the diaspora community will influence Zimbabwe’s domestic politics. He said:
<blockquote>
The election of Josephine Siziba is important because it begins a road map that is beneficial to Zimbabwe, in a profound manner.
Such benefits are observed in the election of Rishi Sunak as the first British Prime Minister with an Asian background.
Indeed, the more Zimbabweans are elected to political office all over the world, the more they will influence and change Zimbabwe’s domestic politics.
The last time a black Councillor was elected here was some 48 years ago. Now it was a Zimbabwean woman that had been elected. That is history in the making.
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The former chief claimed that there are now over 90 Zimbabweans serving as councillors in various countries, as well as a handful of Members of Parliament. He said:
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This is how we raise the profile of Zimbabwe. The Zimbabwean diaspora achieving such positions, enables them to bring jobs to Zimbabweans, bring investment to Zimbabwe, bring resources to Zimbabwe, open markets for Zimbabwe, and encourage trade between Zimbabwe and other nations among other benefits.
</blockquote>
Siziba had been active in fighting to reduce racism activities as a refugee. In 2016, she appeared in the news participating in a protest in Newcastle against the English Defence League (EDL), a far-right movement.

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