Friday, March 29, 2024

Inonge Wina Challenges Political parties to adopt more women in 2016 elections

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Inonge Wina
Inonge Wina

Gender and Child Development Minister Inonge Wina has challenged political parties in the country to have a 50/50 ratio when adopting candidates for the 2016 parliamentary and local government elections.

Mrs. Wina said women in Zambia were highly underrepresented in the political arena making the country the least in the region in implementing the 50/50 representation as required by the Southern African Development Community (SADC) protocol.

She was speaking when she officiated at the 2014 Zambia SADC gender protocol summit held in Lusaka under the theme ‘50/50 by 2015 and demanding a strong post 2015 agenda’.

She expressed sadness that only two female mayors were elected across the country in the recently held mayoral elections.

Mrs. Wina said this has made Zambia have the lowest representation of female councillors at only six percent compared to other countries in the SADC region where Lesotho is the highest at 49 percent.

She reaffirmed the Patriotic Front (PF) government’s commitment to increase women participation in politics and decision making positions as evidenced by the implementation of the national gender policy.

She said President Michael Sata has in the last two years shown strong leadership and great commitment by appointing several women to head key institutions including the judiciary, police, Anti Corruption Commission and Drug Enforcement Commission among others.

The minister said her ministry was currently working with different stakeholders to ensure that the ruling PF and opposition political parties adopt more women for parliamentary and local government elections.

“Government policies will be meaningless if the political parties do not take up this challenge. The civil society organisations play an important role in advocating and supporting women’s representation,” she said.

Mrs. Wina called for concerted efforts in implementing the provisions of the SADC gender protocol alongside the Millennium Development Goals to foster gender equality and empowerment before the 2015 deadline.

And speaking at the same function, Lusaka Mayor Mulenga Sata urged women to employ affirmative action as part of their advocacy to achieve effective 50/50 representation in the country.

Mr. Sata, who bemoaned the rising number of reported gender based violence, commended gender links and the women movement for advancing the cause of their equality in the country which has culminated into action plans.

19 COMMENTS

  1. Dora Siliya is a very intelligent woman. By now she has built a very strong political CV . She has very good communication skills. She is a former diplomat, She has served different ministries in government. She was and she is party spokesperson for MMD. She has been an MP for Petauke. Well educated. She is strong , resilient and pragmatic.
    Hate her or love her she remains a very strong female candidate for the Presidency of this country.

    • I am not sure about some of the qualities you mentione but over and above she is capable of leading this country as a President. I was amazed by her performance at the ministry of education.

    • She is a very strong woman. There are few women in the country who have faced verbal abuse. She has been harassed and called all sorts of names. Despite all this she has remained strong and resolute. More like Micheal. You need such personalities for high office. Not the false Pastors and not weak babies crying for milk all the time.

    • Everyone can have a good and impressive CV , it is a professional Marketing tool what makes a distinction is performance and leaving a mark on the job, Dept and Organization.

    • Kindly list the performance at the Ministry of Education that you were amazed about generalizations are not acceptable.

    • It should be on merit.Look at that Emerine Kabanshi, she reads like a grade 2.
      you must be at some farm madam growing some tomatoes sha !

    • There a number of women who can do better than Dorah so please try and market a better candidate this one has too many skeletons in her closet. Anyway in Zambia fools rule so anything is admissible.

  2. I dont deny that we live in a mans world but in this century, women must stand up for themselves and gather enough stamina to challenge these men. This country has more than enough educated women that fit the calibre to stand in parliament and be challengers!
    If only women at the top and those that have positions to help fellow women could fight,support, work hard to dismantle the inbalance, the country would be in a better shape!

  3. Our problem is not having women or men MPs, but the quality issue is what is missing. Most of our MPs be women or men, really do not have what it takes to be effective law makers, later on to be called honorable.

  4. Bo Inonge you need to show us that women can perform before you ask us to put women in those positions. For example just what have YOU done as a woman minister in your ministry that is noteworthy. You need to know that we CAN’T have your inefficiency represented by 50% of government performance.

    • Bo Inonge you once showed us the run down state of schools in your constituency can you now show us the upgrades you have made so far so that we can see what you have been doing for your people if not for your family.

  5. You head a party ull of murderer and violent people who are not ready to hear any alternative voice. How do you expect woment to offer themselves for office with thugs that you as NEC memeber finance to commit the atrocities?
    Shame on you mum, ask the UPND women affairs chairperson’s experience at the hands of your sponsored, panga carrying thugs. Unless you are blood thirsty, you should never encourage others to get into danger!!!

  6. Everyone can have a good and impressive CV it is a professional Marketing tool what makes a distinction is performance and leaving a mark on the job, Dept and Organization.

  7. Boma Inonge,
    The views expressed above are significant assets of Gender equality, absolutely promoting our women. This is the way forward.
    Nevertheless, Bo Mukwae, 2016 you’ve fast-tracked the people, but what about the people driven constitution of which PF Boma Inonge, promised in 90 days? It’s now 850 days, all was baloney as it seems with PF don’t you reckon shangwe?
    What about the PF cadres perpetually oppressing fellow people and the opposition leaders?
    When was the last time you saw our Barotse women whom you have neglected since 1964? The levels of Barotse women suffering poverty in Barotseland is staggering, check the statistics overall across boards as this information is at your disposal.
    What about the likes of Hon Masebo with ZAWA gospels?

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