The Non Governmental Organizations’ Coordinating Council- NGOCC- has vowed to de-campaign political parties in the country that are not giving equal opportunities for women to take up leadership positions in politics prior to the 2016 general elections.

NGOCC vice chairperson Mary Mulenga says her organization has observed with displeasure that despite massive advocacy for the women%u2019s fifty percent participation in leadership position in the country, political parties are still not adopting the women.

Speaking in an interview with Qfm, Ms. Mulenga said the percentage for women participation in vying for leadership positions among political parties has dropped to eleven percent since the 2011 general elections.

Ms. Mulenga affirmed that women’s participation in holding leadership position in the government as per the SADC protocol consent to by Zambia, women’s involvement should start with political parties.

And he government has been asked to give 50 per cent of jobs that are being created in the country to women in order to accelerate the gender agenda.

Kabompo District Gender Chairperson Phoebe Kilele made the call when she addressed a crowd of women during the international women’s day commemoration at Kabompo secondary school yesterday.

Mrs Kilele said that in the UNIP and MMD regimes women were sidelined in all angles of life.

She said that the appointment of women in key positions in government by the PF government was not a mistake and must be supported by all development and peace loving women and men.

She said that women were considered subordinate socially, economically, spiritually, and physically and had no say.

Mrs Kilele noted that Zambian women were naturally hard workers, effective and efficient managers at all levels and the appointment of a female Inspector General of police, Stella Libongani was a commendable appointment and women in Zambia were happy.

And speaking at the same function Kabompo central ward councillor Janet Kaputula (UPND) bemoaned the small number of female elected ward counsellors in district councillors and female members of parliament in the North-Western province.

Ms Kaputula said that she was saddened that since independence North-Western province can have only three elected Counsellors, two in Kasempa and herself in Kabompo while there is only a single female member of parliament in the whole province.

She appealed to women who have attained 18 years and 21 years to aspire for election to the positions of Councillors and members of parliament respectively in order to enhance the voice of women in the province.

Ms Kaputula however, assured the government that women in Kabompo were rallying behind President Michael Sata and the first lady and able government to promote the welfare of women in the country.

ZANIS

Zambia has clinched a deal with the British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) and the Cable News Network (CNN) in which the two international news networks will begin marketing Zambia’s tourism ahead of the UN World Tourism Organisation general assembly slated for August this year.

This came to light in Berlin, Germany today when regional heads of the BBC and CNN met Tourism and Arts Minister Silvia Masebo at the Zambian stand at the ongoing World travel trade show.

BBC Director for Africa, Katie Waxman and CNN Director for Europe, Middle East and Arfica, Imran Ahmad discussed with Ms Masebo a number of strategies that will be employed to market Zambia’s tourism.

The two international news networks demonstrated to the minister how Zambia’s tourism will be show cased to the international community and how the country stands to benefit from this marketing strategy.

Zambia and Zimbabwe will be co-hosting the 20th session of the186 member UNWTO general assembly in Livingstone and Victoria Falls Town.

And speaking in an interview with Zambian journalists in Berlin, Zambia Tourist Board (ZTB) Managing Director Felix Chaila said the contract with BBC and CNN has already been signed.

Mr Chaila said Zambia has initiated advertising programmes on both BBC and CNN in which the country will be showcased as the preferred tourism destination.

“This is a ground breaking development because Zambia as a preferred destination will be viewed internationally as BBC and CNN are high profile international media organisations,” he said.

Mr Chaila said Zambia has employed marketing strategies in which advertising will be done using a combination of media platforms.

“We are going to also place adverts on BBC online as you know that most tourists rely on internet search engines to get information,” said Mr Chaila.

Mr Chaila said Zambia wants to create a long term relationship with CNN and BBC as it seeks to increase visibility through the international media audience.

“We want tourists to choose Zambia as the best destination,” he said.

ZANIS

First Lady Christine Kaseba-Sata has arrived in New York, United States of America to attend the 57th Session of the Commission on the Status of Women (CSW) being held at the United Nations headquarters.

Mrs Kaseba-Sata who arrived aboard an Emirates airliner at about 14:10hrs local time was received at JFK International Airport by Zambia’s Permanent Representative to the UN, Ambassador Mwaba Kasese-Bota and several officials from the Zambian embassy.

Upon arrival, Dr Kaseba was immediately taken to the Waldorf Astoria Hotel where Zambia’s Ambassador to the United States of America (USA), Palan Mulonda and his delegation were at hand to receive her.

Dr Kaseba is in New York at the invitation of the World Health Organisation (WHO) in her capacity as the WHO’s Good Will Ambassador of Gender Based Violence.

The First Lady is today expected to give a good will message to member states of the United Nations on Gender Based Violence and talk about the medical implications of such violence against women and girls.

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