THE Non-Governmental Organisations Co-ordinating Council (NGOCC) has joined the women’s movement in commending President Lungu for saying he will go for a woman as a running mate in the August 11 general elections.
NGOCC executive director Engwase Mwale said in a statement yesterday that her organisation is happy by the announcement.
“The pronouncement by the head of State is in consonance with the spirit as espoused by the preamble of the republican Constitution. The preamble of the Constitution emphasises the equal worth of both men and women and the need for gender equity and equality,” she said.
Ms Mwale said the Constitution confirms the equal worth of women and men and their right to freely participate in determining and building a sustainable political, legal, economic and social order.
She said her organisation is elated that President Lungu, as leader of the ruling party, is leading the way by committing to adopt a woman as a running mate.
“We hope, therefore, that other political parties will also ensure that there is gender balance between the presidential candidate and the running mate,” she said.
Ms Mwale also urged political parties to ensure that they also adopt more women as parliamentary and local government candidates ahead of the general elections.
She said it is unacceptable that 51 years after independence, the participation of women in politics has remained low.
Ms Mwale urged political parties adopting candidates to ensure more women are adopted.
On Saturday, President Lungu said that he will pick a woman as a running mate in the August 11 general elections.
President Lungu is the first to appoint a woman vice-president since independence.
Also urge these other political parties to practice democracy within their parties by going for conventions maybe more women will stand a chance to be elected at party level first rather than mere appointments. How else will they practice democracy at national level if they fail at party level.
Also, its 2016, appointing or nominating women in to influential positions shouldn’t be lauded as an achievement on the part of EL and PF. These NGO’s should know better than to be singing meaningless praises.
We appeal to the president not to close the door for men completly. Women cant build a village. Men like Mutati or lubinda can make a big difference in August election. We need a strong team of Kambwili, Mumba, lubinda and mutati. Women of Siliya, Nkandu luwo, mumbi and Catherine Namugala. Forgive Masebo she has learnt
Upnd must put Maureen mwanawasa as its running mate to shame madumbo naulya mandevu. Maureen is a good girl after all she is HH’s intimate friend.
she is pregnant,she is not actve right HH ali mutomba ifumo lyalifilwa ukufuma pa pearl of health hospital she was taken to uk,they wanted to abort the pregnancy
JUST WAIT MOLIN WILL BE ANNOUNCED AS RUNNING MATE NOT FAT ALBERT OR DR BANDO.
WHAT WILL HAPPEN THEN ARE THESE TWO GOING TO LIKE IT IF NOT WHO THEN PICK EITHER MASEBO, MRS MAZOKA,REV MATALE,FR LUONDE OR PASTOR FROM ~
LUNGU IS UN BEATEN GO GO PF
apa naizanda they are alot who are eying for that position in UPND that is why shakafuswa is always coming strong against HH coz he knows that GBM C.Banda bashi NONO VJ they are upto no good drama will keep on unfolding lets wait and see,what happened in PF in 2014 prior to the elections will start happening in UPnd very soon
why cant women just form political parties and appoint themselves to whatever position they want?