Vice President Inonge Wina has urged African governments to appoint women in decision making positions to enable them contribute fully to their countries’ economic development.
Mrs. Wina, who is Zambia’s First Female Vice President, said there is need for the African Union (AU) to find ways of incorporating gender equality in the African Peer Review Mechanism (APRM) in order for governments to adhere to commitments made during conferences.
Speaking during a high level breakfast meeting for the African Union in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia today, the Vice President said it was important that commitments made by African governments on gender equality are effected and binding on all.
“I can guarantee that if more women were in decision making positions, Africa would be a better place to live in,” said Mrs. Wina.
According to a press statement issued to ZANIS in Lusaka today by First Secretary for Press and Tourism at the Zambian Embassy in Ethiopia, Inutu Mwanza, the Vice President also called for inclusion of women in the arbitration committee in order to enable them take part in efforts to end conflicts in Africa.
Mrs. Wina further urged African governments to entrench affirmative action in their policies to allow for more representation of women in politics.
She expressed concern at the alleged marginalization of women in politics due to social norms that discourage the participation of the womenfolk in politics stressing that it is difficult for females to be retained in politics in many African states.
The Vice President is in Ethiopia to attend the 30th African Union heads of state and government summit being held under the theme ‘winning the fight against corruption; a sustainable path to Africa’s transformation’.
Speaking earlier, South African President Jacob Zuma acknowledged the need for African governments to appoint more women in decision making positions.
Mr. Zuma said his government was focused on ensuring that women also participate fully in national development.
And Ghanaian President Akufo Addo, who is also African Union (AU) champion on gender, said it was time that African countries affirmed their commitment in ensuring that women are given adequate opportunities to participate in their countries’ socio-economic development.
Meanwhile, United Nations (UN) Secretary General Antonio Guteres called for political will among African countries to reduce the gap between women and men in decision making positions.
Mr. Guteres said Africa is not short of competent women to fill decision making positions.
Every Zambian must contribute k 1 and every Company K5 and raise K20 million to buy a present for Madam Esther Lungu. She made the Great Leader of this Great Nation stop being a Tourist when she locked him out of Nkhwazi when he came back from Inauguration in Kenya. The man spent nights at State Lodge.
Now the man has to send our Grandmother to AU Meeting.
Madam Esther did what no Opposition Party could ever do. She deserves a K20 million gift.
Symbolic leader. She has failed to organize PF from day Sata gave a goodbye speech in Parliament.
PF never even mourned Sata, it was Roman Catholic who gave him a wonderful funeral.
Inonge was in charge of PF, chairlady. Fact.
Now you guys can analyse PF’s mukula & firetrucks…. In midst of Inonge.
LT-Bloggers president.
Look at the women we have causing mayhem. Kapata, Siliya, Mwanakatwe, Nkandu Luo, Kampamba, Mumbi Phiri? Can you honestly say these women have caliber? In North America or Europe before being a Cabinet Minister, one needs an education and does not mean a grade 12 or diploma. It means getting a real bachelor and master’s degree to some getting a law background which you will find mostly in Canada. This people understand their roles and can make informed decisions in boosting and improving their sectors. In Zambia even, a former prostitute can be a minister. People who have fail miserably as ministers are still employed. This is where we question Lungu and why we get scammed by international organizations because “SOME” minister are uneducated!
@bena zambia you sound very angry and frustrated. Don’t worry we will get there one day when most Zambians will be educated enough to represent us.
I would like to see women take up jobs as ‘fishermen’ or hunters or go underground to blast copper ores.
Put the ‘Gender’ card down Granny. Competent people whether fe/male doesn’t matter who does the job as long as it is done right. This is what Zambia needs right now! Anybody and anything but Lungu and you will do for Zambia. You are a woman and is Zambia better off today with you as Vice President? Competent people man or woman period. Not gender representation speeches that end up changing the discourse of anything and everything!!
@umugoregore did you read what @Kaz just wrote? Please do in case you missed it. Let’s stop the blame game and hold people accountable and have the right people running our sectors. I am not angry but very disappointed that we gained independence in 1964 and in 2018, we have some minister’s with a grade 7 and 12 or a certificate of some sort. Seriously what are these people going to do for Zambia. This is why the only thing they are good for is looting for financial gain. Looting is far easier than coming up with strategic management initiative to boost our economy and GDP. So please don’t insult us by saying one day most Zambian’s will be educated enough to represent us. Meanwhile the whole world is revolving, by the time they get educated we will remain behind!