Men Representation Possible
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Gender Focus News A publication of the Non-Governmental Gender Organisations’ Coordinating Council Volume One Friday May 8, 2020 Gender equality key to development, says Liuwa aspirant BY NGOCC STAFFER THE more women in key decision-making positions, the better the chances the country will have to redress the current development challenges the country has, saysMwangalaMwenda Lethbridge. Ms. Mwenda, an Architect by profession is a member of the Patriotic Front (PF) party and is eyeing the Liuwa Constituency seat in Kalabo, Western Province. Full story on page 3 Women have a duty to participate in Governance, WOMEN says Saboi FOR 2021 BY FRIDAH NKONDE-MUBANGA …50/50 women – men WOMEN should know that it is not only their right to take up decision-making positions, but it is also their duty, says NDC Kafue Constituency aspiring candidate representation possible Saboi Imboela. Full story on page 3 Printed with support from OVERNMENT has women to offer themselves Campaign Strategy (CECS) challenged women to for elective positions as at Mulungushi International Goffer themselves for Members of Parliament and Conference Centre in Lusaka elective positions ahead of Councillors. recently, Ms. Phiri said there the 2021 General elections. Speaking during the launch was need for society to Gender Minister Elizabeth of the NGOCC women’s support and vote for women. Phiri says there is need for Coordinated Elections Full story on page 2 “Building Solidarity for Women’s Empowerment” 2. NGOCC News WOMEN FOR 2021 BY NGOCC STAFFER GOVERNMENT has …50/50 women – men representation possible challenged women to offer Campaign Strategy is pre- themselves for elective po- mised on unity of purpose sitions ahead of the 2021 by all stakeholders,” Ms. General elections. Mulenga said. Gender Minister Elizabeth Phiri says there is need for “The narrative of wom- women to offer themselves en aspiring for political for elective positions as leadership; be it at Local Members of Parliament Government, Parliamen- and Councillors. tary and Presidential lev- els remains heart rending. Speaking during the That is why, the women’s launch of the NGOCC movement saw it befitting women’s Coordinated to join hands with various Elections Campaign stakeholders to create a Strategy (CECS) at Mu- deliberate plan to spur lungushi International women’s participation in Conference Centre in politics especially in view Lusaka recently, Ms. Phiri of the fast approaching said there was need for 2021 general elections,” society to support and said Ms. Mulenga. vote for women. Meanwhile, Zambia In March 2020, the National Women’s Lobby Non-governmental Executive Director Juliet Gender Organisations’ Chibuta said it was unfor- Coordinating Council Gender Minister Elizabeth Phiri tunate that globally, girls (NGOCC) launched the women in Parliament and try’s population. President tions. and women continued Coordinated Elections Local Government after Edgar Lungu has over the “The breaking of barri- to be marginalised from Campaign Strategy, whose the 2021 General Elec- years demonstrated his And NGOCC board ers that hinder women’s the political sphere due objective is to among oth- tions,” Ms. Phiri said. government’s desire to chairperson Mary Mu- participation in politics to obstructive laws and er enhance the participa- bring about greater gender lenga in her welcome cannot happen by acci- institutional obstacles, tion of women in gover- “May I take this oppor- equity and equality at the remarks said while the dent. Every person that prejudiced cultural prac- nance and politics. tunity to appeal, first- highest level.” women’s movement recog- is alive to the fact that tices, and disproportion- “It has always been the de- ly, to women, to offer nized the strides that the women can and do play ately low access to quality sire of the government to themselves for elective Ms. Phiri said prior to the country has made towards a critical role not only in education, healthcare, and ensure that we have equal positions as Members of 2016 elections, President empowering women for the home but in matters resources. representation of both Parliament and Council- Lungu and the PF party leadership, the yawning of national development, men and women in poli- lors. Currently, women’s adopted a woman as a gap between women and will agree that deliberate “But as a movement, we tics and decision-making representation in Parlia- running mate who today men in leadership should interventions have to be say no to this and we positions. The government ment is at about 17.2 per is the country’s Republi- never be seen as normal. seriously applied in order refuse to see this in future through the Ministry of cent down from 18.1 per can Vice President. to effectively facilitate because it is possible to Gender therefore, remains cent, recorded after the She said natural justice women’s participation. reverse discriminating committed to working 2016 General Elections. She said the Head of State demands that women are There should be no room policies and practices. with Civil Society and the This is despite the fact that has further appointed a considered equitably even for discrimination or any Education, amongst all women’s movement to women constitute almost number of women to key as they aspire for leader- form of stereotype. The other factors, is recog- ensure that we have more 51 per cent of the coun- decision-making posi- ship. Coordinated Elections nized as one of the most important causes of the problem that prevents women’s voices from be- Take up leadership, Women challenged ing heard in government. Girls being forced to stay BY FRIDAH NKONDE- assessed as to their viability,” Ms. I did my Grade 6 and 7. I did shun politics. Women should be at home to do domestic work, and missing out on MUBANGA Mwamba says. my Grade 8 to 12 at Mumbwa motivated to help being spear Secondary School in Mumbwa. headers in Central governance,” schooling, will have lower self-esteem as a result, WOMEN should take interest “Women should take interest in I later studied Business Admin- Ms. Mwamba says. one of the factors for low in politics because most of the politics because most of the de- istration and Sales. I have been political participation,” decisions made by politicians af- cisions made by politicians affect working in Sales for the past 14 “I picked on Lusaka Central be- Ms. Chibuta said. fect them, says Democratic Party them. It is therefore important to years. I am currently in charge cause it is a very special Constit- (DP) Lusaka Central Constituen- have women in decision-making of retail and chain stores,” Ms. uency. It is composed of a wide “Furthermore, it is the cy 2021 aspiring candidate Linda positions because we need more Mwamba says. portfolio of stakeholders ranging male-dominated nature of Mwamba. women to add their voices and from the working class, the politics in most countries Ms. Mwamba says Zambia needs speak out against the many chal- She says she decided to join employable youth and the hard- that puts a glass barrier more women in decision-making lenges that women face. There politics because she has always working mothers and men in the against women trying positions. are so many women out there wanted to serve the people. markets. The working class needs who are oppressed and there is water, proper markets, affordable to enter it. More women need to be empowered “Being a woman comes with no one to speak for them.” “There is so much that wom- schools and hospitals. When to speak up in the public a natural sense of details. As a en can do in decision-making we talk about the youth…they sphere. It creates a vicious mother, I am always forward Ms Mwamba, 43, and a mother positions. We all know that need support to establish viable cycle that the fewer looking. This is the gift that will of three says women were capa- women have so much to do in businesses. I would like to help women are in politics, the help me serve my people with ble of developing Zambia. the homes; they take care of the the young people access finances more their needs are being high level of forecast. The gift to children, have to ensure that to help run their own activities. unmet; and the more make decisions comes naturally. “I went to Matete Primary there is food in the house, and Using my position, I will be unconfident they are, the I know that I will not struggle School in Kitwe from Grade 1 they are the ones who take care lobbying from the existing NGO less likely they can voice to ensure that all the decisions to 5. I then moved to Muchinka of the sick in homes. I would to come up with activities that out their opinion in the made for the people are properly Primary School in Mansa where like to encourage women not to would help young people.” government.” NGOCC News .3 Women have a duty to participate in Governance, says Saboi BY FRIDAH NKONDe- avail themselves for leadership, politics and anything. You will in terms of how they should MUBANGA so it is important that women find that most women will respond to women leader- avail themselves for leader- only be interviewed on light ship? The women’s movement WOMEN should know that it ship,” Ms. Imboela says. issues. When a woman does has a big role to play when it is not only their right to take something, women are judged comes to sensitising people on up decision-making positions, Ms. Imboela says more women harshly by the media. We need women leadership.My advice but it is also their duty, says should be encouraged to take positive aspects about women to women who shun politics NDC Kafue Constituency up leadership positions in to be brought out and not just is that they should not shun aspiring candidate Saboi society.