Adopt more women in 2011, veep urges parties
9th March 2010
By Times Reporter Vice-President George Kunda has called on all political parties in Zambia to ensure that women are given more opportunities to participate as candidates in the 2011 general elections.
Mr Kunda also encouraged all stakeholders to continue working together to create a conducive environment where men and women would have equal rights and opportunities to contribute and benefit from the development of the nation.
Speaking at Mulungushi International Conference Centre to mark this year’s International Women’s Day, the vice-president said this year’s theme ‘Equal rights, equal opportunities, progress for all’ was a pillar which formed the foundation of society today and had continued to guide the policy formulation and legal framework processes.
“In this area of decision making and in line with international protocols, my Government remains committed to the African Union solemn declaration of gender equality in Africa which requires member States to achieve gender parity in decision-making positions,”
“I wish to encourage all political parties in the country to ensure that during the 2011 general elections, women are given opportunities to participate as candidates,” Mr Kunda said at the function, also attended by First Lady Thandiwe Banda and the vice-president’s wife Ireen Kunda.
He said Zambia’s commitment to ensuring equal rights and opportunities was guaranteed in the Republican Constitution as it did not discriminate on the basis of gender, marital status, sex, race or religion.
Mr Kunda said it was critical that all subsidiary legislation reflected important principles and that he was glad the NCC was currently considering various submissions on issues relating to equity and equality between men and women.
“It is my firm belief that through the NCC, we are laying a better foundation for enhancement of equal rights and opportunities for women and men; my administration has also put in place a number of policy and administrative interventions aimed at ensuring equal rights and opportunities to facilitate participatory development,” he said.
Mr Kunda said the Government has made a deliberate decision to allow for accelerated implementation of the National Gender Policy by giving the Gender In Development Division enhanced financial capacity to coordinate gender programmes as provided for by Parliament in the 2010 national Budget.
The vice-president said the national gender machinery should be supplemented by gender responsive budgeting in all ministries, provinces, spending agencies, private sector and civil society organisations and that it should be treated as a national programme across all sectors.
He said progress in a country could not be achieved without a healthy people and hence Government introduced a retention scheme for health personnel to ensure availability of qualified health personnel in rural areas.
And Gender Minister Sarah Sayifwanda has demanded for equal opportunities in decision making positions as well as a level playing field for female positions in Cabinet and the coming general elections.
She said her office would continue to strengthen collaborations with all the stakeholders in the gender sector to contribute to the achievement of the national vision on gender equality and equity.
“As you might be aware, this year’s theme calls for the active engagement among Government institutions, private sector, civil society and faith-based organisations as well as individuals to ensure the attainment of equal rights and opportunities,” Ms Sayifwanda said.
And former first lady Maureen Mwanawasa, who was in attendance said the call to adopt many women started way back. She said the best Government should do was to specifically create women’s positions which would not be contested for by men and let those interested grab them.
[Times of Zambia]
