Women’s Lobby applauds PF

Women’s Lobby Chairperson Beauty Katebe Phiri says as the country gears to commemorate the 50th independence anniversary, it should be an opportunity not only to look at the economic theory of Zambia on paper, but to look at the strides the country has made in ensuring equal opportunities and participation of women and men in the social, economic and political sectors.

She says considering the fact that President Michael Sata’s speech during opening of Parliament indicated that Government will be guided by the National Vision 2030, the revised Sixth National Development Plan covering the period 2013 to 2016 and the Decentralization Policy, it is of utmost importance that the country begins to align the focus of the Government with the key policies, frameworks and instruments that Zambia has concerted to on gender to address issues affecting women and girls.

Ms Katebe adds that it is unfortunate that key policy instruments such as the Gender policy and the SADC protocol are rarely referred to as key instruments to guide government business.

She says as long as pertinent issues affecting 51% of the population which is women are not ADDRESSED; all the other efforts to improve the social and economic front of Zambia will be but in vain.

She adds that the women movement appreciates the President’s call for peace during by-elections as violence has hindered female participation in politics stressing that Political leaders should take responsibility to ensure that they counsel and guide their cadres to desist from violence.