Zambia celebrates international women’s day

Zambia has joined the rest of the World in commemorating the International Women’s Day with thousands of women in Lusaka turning up to celebrate their day.

The commemoration in Lusaka was preceded by women from different sectors of society led by First Lady Thandiwe Banda.
Jubilant women matched from Munali High School to the Mulungushi International Conference Centre were the main activities were lined up.

Officiating at this year’s event Non Governmental Organization Coordinating Council Board Chairperson Marian Munyinda appealed for practical and deliberate legal framework to be put in place to improve the status of women in the country.

Mrs Munyinda said the legal frame work was the only way inequalities between men and women will be addressed.

She called for honouring of women who have distinguished themselves in different fields during ceremonies such as the investiture ceremony that government conducts during the Indepedence day cerebration.

Mrs Munyinda said women should have equal opportunities as men within their political parties to stand as candidates in elections.

And Sinazongwe district which has been cut off from the entire country also celebrate the International women’s day in different areas because of the floods that have made roads impassable for them to unite.
The women who were supposed to gather in Maamba mine Township failed to come together with their counterparts in Sinazongwe area and Sinazeze Township.

Officiating at this year’s International women’s day in Maamba, Sinazongwe District Commissioner Oliver (DC) Pelete encouraged women in the district to acquire titled land through the local authority.

In a speech read on his behalf by Sinazongwe District Education Board Secretary (DEBS) Victor Musa, the DC said government has implemented the land reforms to encourage women to own land.
Musa said previously women had no access to land as it was predominantly a man’s affair.

He said access to land could empower women to use it as collateral to obtain financial resources for their investment.
The DEBS urged all stakeholders to continue working together to create an enabling environment where men and women have equal rights and opportunities to contribute to the development of the district.

Government head of departments also attend gathering which was held at Ziba Zako Lodge.
The women charmed the audience with their entertaining sketches, songs, dances, and poems that left most people reeling with laughter.
This year International women’s day theme was “Equal Opportunities, Equal Rights and Progress for all.”