Africa’s under-development due to un-exploited women potential – ILO

The International Labour Organisation (ILO) says most African countries have remained under-developed due to un- exploited women’s potential in economic development.

ILO Africa Director Aeneas Chuma says there is documented evidence that women’s active participation in the country’s economy leads to national development.

He say that there is need for countries to take advantage of significant role played by women through empowerment programmes.

ZANIS reports that the ILO Africa Director said this in an interview upon his arrival at Kenneth Kaunda International Airport for the on-going National Women’s Empowerment Jubilee Expo held at the Mulungushi international conference centre in Lusaka.

Mr Chuma said there is evidence to the effect that when women are employed, their work valued and remunerated, economic development takes place.

He also said stakeholders should address impediments that hinder women from accessing financing for their businesses.

Mr Chuma who is also said ILO is promoting equality of women through promoting development programmes of women.

Majority of women in most parts of the continent have continued being discriminated and pushed to the edges of society through stereotype practices and discrimination.

In most African societies, women have from infancy been denied opportunities to contribute to their respective households and countries as a whole socially and economically as they are treated as wives for bearing children, only.

And Ministry of Gender Permanent Secretary Daisy Ng’ambi expressed happiness that the need to empower women economically is receiving international recognition.

Ms Ng’ambi also revealed that her Ministry wants the make the National Women’s Empowerment Expo an annual event.

She said there are plans to hold provincial women’s empowerment expo in all the provinces as a way of reaching out to more women.