Non-Governmental Organizations’ Coordinating Council (NGOCC) Board Chairperson Sara Longwe says the Zambian society is still bias towards the male which continues to disproportionately access various services and benefits.

Speaking during the grants award Presentation and European Union (EU) Project launch at the Lusaka’s NGOCC secretariat yesterday, Ms. Longwe said efforts to change the status of the Zambian women have continued to be frustrated by a number of legal impediments, inadequate political will, insufficient resources, poverty, HIV and AIDS, and maternal mortality.

The Pan African Radio Journalist Hermit Hachilonde reports that Ms. Longwe added that women are systematically blocked from rights, opportunities and resources resulting in vulnerability which must be recognized as a structural tool of discrimination and exploitation in Zambia.

She said according to the 2014 Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) Progress report for Zambia (UNDP) extreme poverty in Zambia is much higher in rural areas which is at 57.7 percent as compared to urban areas with 13.1 percent.

Ms. Longwe stated that the report also indicates higher poverty levels among female headed households which are at 60.4 percent than male headed households which is at 57.1 percent because women lack economic, social and political power, which excludes them from development processes in the country.

“The support will include activities aimed at increasing productivity in the fields of their economic interventions. The sub-granting program has, in the past, provided support to income generating activities which provide a sustainable livelihood in form of farming implements such as ploughs which positively affect food security, value addition and increased productivity in the agricultural sector”

“Further, through this project NGOCC will facilitate MOs’ participation in Provincial Development Coordinating Committees (PDCC) and District Development Coordinating Committees (DDCCs) to enable them input in the governance of the nation” Ms. Longwe said

Meanwhile, Non-Governmental Organizations’ Coordinating Council (NGOCC) Executive Director Engwase Mwale in her opening remarks revealed that the grant from European Union (EU) was amounting to one million Euros which will be disbursed over the next three years.

Ms. Mwale who assured the European Union (EU) that the grant will be utilized for its intended purpose said the EU the project is aimed at contributing to the socio economic empowerment of women, especially in rural Zambia for achieving greater gender equity and equality with the Action anchored on three specific objects expected to influence the review and implementation of legal reforms and policies by 2019.

“The Grant will be utilized for its intended purposewhich is aimed at contributing to the socio economic empowerment of women, especially in rural Zambia for achieving greater gender equity and equality” Ms. Mwale said

And European Union (EU) representative Fabienne Van Den Eede said the partnership with the NGOCC is a unique opportunity for the European Union to reach out to Zambian organizations which is one of the EU priorities in engagement with civil society.

Ms. Fabienne said Zambia is a country where inequalities persist, between the people in urban and rural areas especially between men and women, adding that poverty has continued carrying a female face.

She further noted that access to education, economic and financial resources have remained a big challenge in Zambia.

“I know that as European Union, in partnership with NGOCC and all its members we will take big steps in the right direction” Fabienne said

First Lady of Zambia Esther Lungu says ending poverty in Zambia and other developing countries will depend on the attention given to rural women, who are the primary agents of change in the fight against hunger and poverty in their communities.

In a statement released to the media by First Secretary for Press and Public Relations Permanent Mission of the Republic of Zambia to the United Nations Mr Chibaula Silwamba, Mrs. Lungu said empowering rural women would lead to agricultural growth and poverty eradication.

Mrs Lungu was the keynote speaker at a side-event co-organised by FAO, IFAD, WFP, UN Women, the EU and the Permanent Mission of Slovak to the UN under the theme: “Step It Up Together with Rural Women to End Hunger and Poverty” on the first-day of the 61st Session of the UN Commission on the Status of Women (CSW61), an annual meeting focusing on women and girl’s welfare worldwide, on Monday.

“In the developing world, rural agriculture is the sustenance of the majority of people, in particular women. We all agree that extreme poverty manifests mostly in rural areas of developing countries where statistics indicate that on average, women comprise 43 per cent of the agricultural labour force and contribute 70 percent of labour,” Mrs. Lungu said.

“In Zambia, we are Stepping Up, but of course more needs to be done. The President of Zambia His Excellency Mr. Edgar Lungu has directed that the policy on allocating 50 per cent of state land to women must be enforced without fail.”

She said traditional leaders were required to provide a minimum of 100 hectares of land to women cooperatives.

The First Lady said Zambia had a provision for individual women to be allocated land in line with the mechanisation programme for rural women in agriculture.

She said last year the Ministry of Gender distributed 51 tractors and 94 tillers to 100 chiefdoms out of the earmarked 288.

“As First Lady, advocacy continues to be top on my agenda and is focusing on tackling social-cultural norms, attitudes and behaviours that need elimination or adjustment,” Mrs. Lungu said. “I have engaged the spouses of traditional leaders to be the transformational champions in addressing deep rooted cultural gender inequalities in rural areas.”

Due to climate change, Mrs Lungu expressed concern that effects such as drought and flooding lead to many women losing their crops, which is their only investment.

“This forces them to seek employment from emergent and large scale farmers where they face risks that come with lifting heavy loads; harsh weather conditions and exposure to chemicals just to mention a few. Rural women work long hours earning low, unstable incomes let alone being least appreciated,” said Mrs. Lungu.

“I speak with passion and give firsthand testimony having had the opportunity to traverse the rural areas of Zambia, and I am sure I speak for many women in developing nations, who have for a long time been shackled with the chains of harsh conditions.”

The Commission on the Status of Women opened on Monday at United Nations Headquarters in New York and will run up to 24 March 2017.

Zambia has won international respect for its advocacy and implementation of policies and programmes that protect and promote the wellbeing of women and girls.

Minister of Gender Victoria Kalima says Zambia is making strides in innovation and technology advancements.

Ms Kalima said technology and innovation if well harnessed are key to improving standards of living to the citizenry in a competitive world.

She noted that technology and innovation enhances economic efficiency and optimising the contribution of Zambians in economic growth and poverty reduction.

The Gender Minister said this during a ministerial side event at the 61st session of the United Nations Commission on the Status of Women (CSW) which opened yesterday in New York.

The Ministerial side event focused on the theme, “Technology changing the world of work: how can technology and innovation be harnessed to accelerate women’s economic empowerment?

The Ministerial roundtable also focused on exchange of experiences, lessons learned and good practices on women’s empowerment and its link to sustainable development.

Ms Kalima said government has mainstreamed gender empowerment into the plans of the Ministry of Science Technology and Vocation for the realisation of the Sustainable Development Goal number four on ensuring inclusive and equitable quality education.

The Gender Minister further said the move will also promote lifelong learning opportunities required to eliminate gender parity in education.

She encourage participation of women and girls in the technology and innovation fields.

Ms Kalima said Zambia has fused in interventions meant to achieve economic growth through the reformation of regulatory frameworks for doing business.

She cited some of the regulatory frameworks as the introduction of an administrative way of cutting administrative burdens through the issuance of business licenses and permits.

Ms Kalima said other interventions include the establishment of one stop business registration centres meant to encourage more women to participate in business.

She said government is also promoting the establishment of economic zones, industrial parks and innovation hubs in order to broaden its capacity to meet empowerment demands for young people and women in Zambia.

She added that to complement this initiative government is providing various financing mechanisms such as the Youth Empowerment Fund and the Citizens Economic Empowerment (CEEC) to enable women have access to capital required to conduct businesses.

Ms Kalima further said that 30 percent of such programmes are being allocated to women while 70 percent is competed by both men and women.

She added that to supplement the initiatives, government has reviewed the Patent Act to protect and promote new innovations among youths and women who are adventurous by nature and have the capacity to multi task.

This year’s session of the Commission is addressing as its priority theme, “Women’s economic empowerment in the changing world of work”.

SPEAKER of the National Assembly Patrick Matibini has noted with concern a disturbing trend by some Members of Parliament to resort to use of abusive language and threats of physical violence in the house.

He said this kind of conduct not only offends the rules of the house, but also, unfortunately undermines the decorum and dignity of the entire house.

Dr Matibini said this when he delivered ruling on a point of order raised by Roan Member of Parliament Chishimba Kambwili on 16th December, 2016 who wanted to know whether Government Chief Whip Richard Musukwa was in order not to cite the Daily Nation newspaper for contempt of the house for misrepresenting facts when the paper reported that he had threatened to beat up Copperbelt province Minister Bowman Lusambo but was only restrained.

He said Dr Kambwili was himself out of order for making a personal attack against Mr Lusambo, did not correctly the Copperbelt Minister when he referred to him as a boy and also used offensive and un-parliamentary language against him.

Dr Matibini further said that while to some extent the Daily Nation newspaper reflected what Dr Kambwili said on the floor of the house on 15th December, 2016, the article in question was embellished with opinion and expression that were not part of what transpired in the house.

He said at no time did Dr Kambwili go vile in attacking Mr Lusambo as stated by the newspaper in its article, adding that the records show that at the time the Roan MP was debating, Mr Lusambo was already in the house and did not walk in during his debate contrary to what was reported.

The Speaker established that the Daily Nation newspaper was out of order for misrepresenting facts.

The Non-Governmental Organizations Coordinating Council-NGOCC has disbursed four million kwacha grants to 35 women based Non-Governmental Organisations (NGOs).

The grants have been provided with support from the European Union under the women empowerment project.

Speaking during the handover ceremony of the cheques to the beneficiaries, NGOCC Board Chairperson Sara Longwe disclosed that NGOCC was awarded a direct grant of One million Euros that will be disbursed to various NGOs over a three year period.

Mrs. Longwe expressed optimism that the grants will help improve the lives of women especially in rural areas.

She observed that most women in rural areas face challenges in accessing empowerment funds.

She emphasised that gender equity and equality will only be achieved once women are fully empowered financially.

And European Union Head of Government and Social Sectors Section Fabienne Van Dev Eede disclosed that the European Union decided to work with NGOCC because of the organisation’s commitment towards the improvement the welfare of women.

And speaking earlier, at the same function, NGOCC Executive Director Engwase Mwale assured the EU that the grant awarded to NGOCC will be put to good use.

Mrs Mwale said the organization will ensure that the grant is used for it’s intend purpose of empowering women.

CHISHIMBA Kambwili has gone ballistic and confirmed that he branded State House Minister Freedom Sikazwe ‘‘brainless and childish’’ in Parliament on Friday, while accusing some Daily Nation editors of being hired to destroy his political career.

‘‘I asked a fair question in Parliament but Mr Sikazwe told me I was asking a stupid question. So I told Mr Sikazwe that ‘tawakwata amano’ (you are brainless). I told Sikazwe that the PF did not belong to him and that I was going to sort him out because he was being childish. I told Mr Sikazwe that I do not tolerate nonsense,” Mr Kambwili said.

Mr Kambwili claimed that Mr Sikazwe had threatened to destroy his businesses in the presence of Vice-President Inonge Wina, Defence Minister Davies Chama and Minister of Lands and Natural Resources Jean Kapata.

“No contract has been cancelled anywhere either for me as an individual or for my companies. What Mr Sikazwe is saying is trash. Mr Sikazwe told me that my businesses would be squeezed and my children would suffer.

“After about four months, I wrote a text message to Mr Sikazwe to thank him for squeezing my businesses. I have always been my own man and no one will ever destroy me,” Mr Kambwili said.

“Mr Sikazwe should not think he is going to be minister forever. I was once a minister and I was fired. You do not apply to be minister but you are appointed at the prerogative of the President. I was like Mr Sikazwe and he be will like be me.

He insisted that he was not going to allow himself to be dictated to on how to debate in Parliament and that he had been provoked beyond what he said he could bear by the PF Government and was only restraining himself.

Mr Kambwili, the Patriotic Front (PF) Roan Member of Parliament, claimed that Mr Sikazwe had threatened that Government was going to squeeze his businesses.

Reacting to a story published in the Sunday Nation on Sunday, Mr Kambwili claimed he was not a bitter man for having been fired from Government but would always speak his mind if he believed that things were going wrong.

He said none of the contracts undertaken by his companies had been cancelled as claimed by Mr Sikazwe and that it was therefore not true that his animosity against the State House minister was as a result of the alleged cancelled deals.

He also accused the Daily Nation of having been ordered by some editors to launch a propaganda campaign against him because, according to him, he was being perceived as positioning himself for the 2021 general elections.

Mr Kambwili wondered why people were talking about him over the 2021 general elections but declared that he was not going to do anything that was going to destroy the PF.