Oxfam Zambia has observed that majority of Zambians still live in poverty despite the country recording impressive economic growth over the years.
Oxfam Country Acting Director Isa Miah stated that poverty in Zambia is still over 60 percent and stuck among rural, agriculture, women, youth and urban poor including under nourished children.
Mr Miah said poverty is stagnant while inequality is growing between Zambians who have much and those that have nothing at all.
He was speaking at Oxfam offices in Lusaka when he unveiled a new five year country strategy for the organisation to run between 2015-2019.
Mr Miah said the new country strategy is anchored on four main goals which include the promotion of agriculture productivity and building resilience through increased investment and access to markets for small holder famers.
He added that the new strategy also focuses on gender equality and women’s rights through the building of a stronger women’s rights movements and creation of a conducive policy and social environment for women and girls.
Mr Miah said the third goal is to mobilise and build capacity of civil society and citizens to hold government and private sector accountable in the use of natural resources and ensure the benefits accrue to the ordinary Zambians especially women.
He further stated that Oxfam also hopes to build partner capacity to respond to humanitarian emergencies, reduce community vulnerability to hazards and increase ability to recover from shocks.
And Oxfam Regional Director Nelly Nyang’wa commended Oxfam Zambia for the launch of the new country strategy which she says fits into the global Oxfam framework.
Mrs Nyang’wa expressed happiness that the new strategy also focuses on gender with the aim of ending violence against women and girls.
It is our hope that this new approach will have direct effect on those who are involved in coming up with policies for the country so as to have direct benefit to the poor of the poorest in society. Most of the policies in place currently seem not to be very targeted, thus too general and as a result the needy in society are completely skipped and continue to wallop in abject poverty. The growth being recorded by the country does not seem to be interpreted at grass-root levels. This is the area that need to be looked at and where possible a research need to be undertaken to identify where the missing links are. This will make the proper targeting of the advocy efforts.
NGOs can never change the national economy. Zambians should just elect competent national leaders not these tribal cabals that rely on emotional blackmail and corruption. We have to be in charge of our destiny. Prosperity will never come from outside, whether Mugabe or Oxfam.
this regional director for oxfam is one of the most intelligent persons i have ever worked with. i am happy to learn she is now a regional director from being a country director for Zambia. you are one inspiration to all madam. thanks for the new strategy i hope government looks at this and seriously adopt some of the approaches you suggest