Zambia’s industrial cluster approach for development cited at he ECA forum

Zambia has been cited as one of the countries in Africa with the best practices in instituting a coordination mechanism as that exemplified by the industrial cluster approach that has been adopted under the Seventh National Development Plan.

The declaration was made by the Economic Commission for Africa (ECA) during a Committee on Gender and Social Development in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.

Ministry of Gender Permanent Secretary Dr Felix Phiri who spoke on the sidelines of the Committee on Gender and Social Development meeting said Government had seen the need to move away from the sector approach and adopt the industrial cluster approach which is more effective and integrated.

He said Government’s move to develop clusters will see development trickle down to all its citizenry especially women who are often marginalized.

Dr Phiri said Zambia is seeking support to develop the Gender Development Index in order for the country to measure its performance on reducing development inequalities.

He also said Government had this year set aside K25 million to go towards improving gender and social development.

The Permanent Secretary said the funds which will be available in all the ten provinces will help people especially women to come up with viable projects and in turn contribute to the country’s economic development.

And Dr Phiri said government was concerned about the low representation of women in politics.

He said the ministry of Gender has since held a workshop with the ministry of justice and Electoral Commission of Zambia to find ways of engendering the Electoral Code to allow for more participation of women in politics.

Meanwhile, Dr Phiri said Government was concerned with the recent spate of Gender based Violence (GBV) cases in the country.

He stressed the need for different stakeholders to come together and find amicable ways of helping societies to get rid of the vice that has seen a number of lives being lost.

Dr. Phiri urged the church, Civil Societies and Traditional leaders to take an interest in sensitizing the citizenry about the dangers of GBV saying Government alone cannot manage to curb the vice.

This is contained in a statement issued to Pan African Radio by First Secretary for Press and Tourism at the Zambian Embassy in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia Mrs. Inutu Mupango Mwanza.