NGOCC SADDENED THAT ALL SUCCESSFUL GOVERNMENTS FAILED TO APPOINT WOMEN IN LEADERSHIP POSTIONS

NGOCC Board Chairperson Grace Sinkamba 

By Memory Chundu

The overall objective of gender equality is a society in which women and men enjoy the same opportunities, rights and obligations in all spheres of life.

Within the context of population and development programmes, gender equality is critical because it will enable women and men to make decisions that impact more positively on their own sexual and reproductive health as well as that of their spouses and families. 

According to Zambian constitution article 68 and 69, the president may nominate not more than eight members of the parliament.

This provision may be utilized by the president to enhance the female representation in the National Assembly. Since Cabinet Ministers are nominated from Parliament, increasing the participation of women through Articles 68 and 69 may result in a more gender balanced Cabinet.

Non Governmental Gender Organizations Coordinating Council is therefore saddened that successive governments have failed to ensure balance in the appointment of men and women in leadership positions. 

NGOCC Board Chairperson Grace Sinkamba says there is need for affirmative action to ensure equal representation of both men and women in leadership positions.

Ms. Sinkamba says despite women constituting majority of Zambia's population, only few are being appointed to serve as Ministers, Permanent Secretaries and District Commissioners among other positions.

“I think as a country we have lost it, we have a lot of women professionals in the country who are capable of serving different positions in the country” said Ms. Sinkamba.

She said provisions in the Zambian Constitution which provide for gender equity and equality should be enforced to ensure that more women are appointed to leadership positions.

She said there is need for government to strengthen policy measures and legislation to actualize the 50-50 representation of both men and women in positions of decision making at all levels.                                                 

And Gender Activist Nalucha Ziba has called for more empowerment programs for women in the country.

Ms Ziba has noted that the new dawn government has not done much to empower women despite allocating 20 percent of the Constituency Development Fund to women programs.

She said women being the majority population in the country government should put in place mechanism that will help to sustain their enterprise and entrepreneur activities.

Ms Ziba is also of the view that government operationalises the Gender Commission to track the enforcement of gender standards both in the public and private sector.

She has further called on President Hakainde Hichilema to consider appointing a minister of gender to champion and track gender issues practices, policies and implementation in the country.

Zambia National Women's Lobby Executive Director Juliet Chibuta has called on government to bring back the Ministry of Gender for women to allow a qualitative leap in gender policies in the country, giving a treatment and continuity required.

She has observed that it is not enough for New Dawn administration to place the Ministry of Gender under the office of the Vice President.