PRESIDENT SAYS WOMEN PARTICIPATION KEY, STRENGTHENING OF RELEVANT LAWS IS VITAL.
President Hakainde Hichilema writes below…
This afternoon we met the Non Governmental Gender Organisations Coordinating Council (NGOCC) Chairperson Madam Mary Silavwe Mulenga and discussed a wide range of issues affecting the Nation. These issues included women participation in decision making.
We stated that we remain committed to ensuring that more women are put in key strategic positions. This is the reason we have a woman Vice President, the first woman Speaker of the National Assembly and her Deputy, also a woman. Additionally, the UPND has appointed a woman as deputy Chief Whip, Honourable Princess Kasune. This a demonstration of our commitment to gender diversity.
Women participation in politics has been hampered by the hostile environment previously and this is the reason we are examining the relevant laws to ensure that women can take the stage on the political front without being physically and emotionally abused. This is also the reason we vowed that politics of violence will be a thing of the past. This will make the political environment friendly for women participation.
We believe that gender diversity is important in national development. The proposal made by the NGOCC to include more women in leadership as we pursue gender parity, will be expeditiously dealt with.
We also understand their concerns about the merged and removed Ministry of Gender but we also believe that elevating Gender to the Vice and President’s Office will give it the necessary attention and political will. Thus my commitment to ensure that laws that facilitate gender are reviewed.
We will ensure that Zambia is equal for all and this is what we are beginning to do on this journey.
May God Bless our women in the Country.
Hakainde Hichilema
President of the Republic of Zambia
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