Gozo’s written political history goes back to Punic and Roman times and throughout the centuries, except for some very short intervals, it was tightly woven with that of Malta.
In spite of their relative size, Gozitan villages have their own histories to tell. This shows that they are microcosms of the bigger reality that is Malta if not of a wider reality too. Despite the fact that a political history of Żebbuġ is yet to be written, there are key events that have moulded the political history of the village. The role of Żebbuġ in the uprising against the French at the end of the 18th century was characterized by two leaders, namely Martin Axiaq and Dr. Joseph Grima. They led eight groups of 124 men whose task was to guard the Żebbuġ and Għasri.
In 1814 the British government appointed mayors in all villages. For Żebbuġ, Mr. Vincenzo Mizzi was appointed as administrator. In the late 19th and early 20th century Żebbuġ had close historical ties with another Mizzi family, this time the family of two honourable Maltese politicians, namely Fortunato, leader of the Anti-riformist party and his son Enrico who was Prime Minister of Malta. The Mizzi family had a house in Żebbuġ and its special tie to the village culminated in the donation of an important relic to the parish, that of St. Fortunatus, the saint who bears the same name of several members of the Mizzi family.
In 1921, after the granting of the Self Government constitution, elections were held in Malta. Records show that in Żebbuġ only 20 men had the right to vote. In 1948, Frances Camilleri, a well know local baker and member of the Jones Party, got elected to parliament. Unfortunately he passed away prematurely just after a few months he took office.
In the last decade of the 20th century, the village of Żebbuġ experienced an important milestone in its democratic history. This happened with the creation of the local councils. The latter were established as a result of the Local Councils Bill that was published on 23rd November 1992. Act XV (1993) made provisions for the setting up of Local Councils and was approved by the Malta Parliament on 14h June 1993 and assented by the President on 30th June. Aimed at the decentralization of power, this reform had a deep positive mark on the socio-political and socio-economic aspects of tiny villages such as Żebbuġ, which had always suffered because of its geographical and demographic limitations.
The first local council election was held in Żebbuġ in 14th May 1994 and the first mayor was Michael Cefai. The setting up of a local council in Żebbuġ brought about a radical change in the governance of the village. Żebbuġ started being referred to as a locality rather than a village. But the change was not just in a name. Villagers started participating more in the democratic process. Through their elected representatives, the residents had direct involvement in the administration of their locality. It also gave the village a new identity, with a new coat of arms, new boundaries, which included Marsalforn and also new opportunities of managing national and European funds. As an area Żebbuġ became the biggest locality in Gozo.
While the first local council used a room in the Żebbuġ Primary School as its administrative office, it soon sought a more central location where the residents, both of Żebbuġ and Marsalforn could get their services. A private property in Church Street started to be rented and this is where the Żebbuġ Local Council has its seat.
The local council office is set on three floors The basement was renovated through public funds obtained by the Żebbuġ Youth Local Council. The ground floor hosts the front desk and the offices of the executive secretary and the current mayor. The first floor includes the council hall where meetings are held.
The Żebbuġ Local Council is currently composed of five members:
Mr. Baskal Saliba – Mayor
Mr. Daniel Cordina – Deputy Mayor
Mr. Mario Portelli- Councillor
Dr. Marlene Cini – Councillor
Mr. Nicky Saliba – Councillor
The Executive Secretary is Ms. Odette Camilleri.
References
Bezzina, J. (2005). Gozo’s Government. Malta: AM Printing
Vella, H. C. R. (2018). Żebbuġ of Gozo – Its People, Inscriptions and History. Malta: Print It
Research: Mario Cassar
Copyright: Soċjeta’ Banda Santa Marija and Żebbuġ Gozo Local Council
Photo credits: Mario Cassar
Acknowledgments: Historical photos of Żebbuġ Local Council are being reproduced by courtesy of the same local council.
