Government has applied programmes in the national planning that will reduce gender imbalance.

Western Province Minister Adonis Mufalali said this is in order to promote equal partnership between Women and Men.

Mr. Mufalali said that women need to take advantage and complement Government policies that have been put in place for them.

He also pointed that NGOs need to mainstream their programmes that are going to ensure men’s involvement.

The minister said this in a speech read on his behalf by Western Province Deputy Permanent Secretary Phanuel Chibala during the International Women’s Day Commemoration yesterday.

ZANIS/RK/ENDS/MM.

Gender and Women Affairs minister Sarah Sayifwanda says it is government’s goal to deepen women’s participation in the economy.

Ms. Sayifwanda said it was government’s desire to encourage more women to participate in the growth of the national economy.

She said this in Lusaka today, when she officiated at a Zambia Breweries (ZB) organised meeting for women at the Mulungushi International Conference Center.

The minister said that government also appreciates corporate entities like ZB Plc who plough back their profits into communities.

Ms. Sayifwanda urged other corporate companies to emulate Zambian Breweries Group so that they can help make Zambia a better place to live in.

She commended Zambian Breweries for the approach they have taken of opting to empower the women adding that it was more sustainable than advancing them with money or loans.

Zambian Breweries Group Managing Director, Mr. Pearson Gowero said his company believes that long term success of any company is irrevocably intertwined with the success of the community it operates in.

Mr. Gowero said it is for this reason that his company has been a trend-setter in corporate social responsibility programs in the country for many years.

He said the seminar was further proof of the company’s commitment to Economic and Social development in Zambia.

ZANIS/PC/ENDS/MM.

Government has given a grant amounting to K396 million to various youth and sports organisations in the country and has pledged continued support to organisations that look after the welfare of children.

The grant which is divided in three categories with the sports department getting K110,468,000.00 for 8 sports institutions, Child department K46,750,000.00 for 21 institutions and the youth department K239,166,000.00 for its 27 institutions country wide.

Youth, Sport and Child Development Minister Kenneth Chipungu said the grant is aimed at creating and promoting dialogue between youth institutions and government.

Speaking when he met stakeholders from different youth Non Governmental organisations (NGOs) in Lusaka yesterday, Chipungu said government recognized the role that young people play towards the national development and therefore it will continue supporting efforts intended to develop the youths.

He noted that institutions such as Orphanages, Empowerment clubs, Community youth clubs, Sports clubs and other child care organisations should be given support by all.

He said these organizations supplement government’s efforts in reaching out to the vulnerable groups in society.

The minister explained that through these NGOs, government would be able to effectively monitor Child, youth and Sport development in the country.

Chipungu noted that there is need for all stakeholders to be involved in issues concerning child development if the country is to achieve sustainable development.

He added that if children are well developed they are likely to contribute to the Socio-Economic development of the country.

Meanwhile the Minster has urged all the organisations that have received the grants not to be complacent but to work hard and generate more resources for their operations.

Chipungu pointed out that in this time of global economic crunch, government cannot manage to provide all the needed resources for the operations of all NGOs in the country wide.

He further called upon the recipients to ensure that the grants save the intended purpose of uplifting the living standards of people in the country.

Beneficiary organisations are the National Youth Development Council (NYDC), National Sports Council, Girls and the Boys Brigade, SOS children Home, Cheshire Homes, Chiota Empowerment Club, Young Women Christian Association (YWCA) Chilenje transient home among others.

ZANIS/MM/MKM/ENDS.

The National Initiative for Citizens Awareness (NICA) has mobilised 300 youths from various communities to carry out a cleaning activity at the Old Leopards Hill Cemetery.

NICA President Kelvin Sampa says in a statement to ZANIS that his organisation has mobilised the youths mainly from the ruling MMD for the activity which will start at 09: 00 hours, Sunday.

Mr Sampa said the activity is in accordance with President Rupiah Banda’s challenge, in his 2009 Youth Day Celebrations speech, for youths to be innovative.

He said it is for this reason that his organisation has come to realise that youths should take a leading role and show the nation that they could come together for national development.

THE NICA president said his organisation is spearheading the project with the support from Chines Associations based in Zambia.

The project is the first of its kind in the country. Many a cemetery in the country remain unkempt and with over grown grass as often times the bereaved families rarely find time to tend cemeteries of their deceased loved ones.

Mr Sampa expressed his hope that his organisation’s initiative would enable other groups and organisations to emulate.
ZANIS/MM/ENDS/MM

Government has observed that the rapid dilapidation in sports facilities has greatly contributed to juvenile delinquency in the country.

Lusaka Province Permanent Secretary, Stephen Bwalya, said lack of investment in sports infrastructure development and lack of recreation facilities in the country has deprived many youths of the chance to explore their talents.

Mr. Bwalya said this when he officiated at an Inter-denomination youth tournament held at Matero Boys Secondary School in Lusaka yesterday..

He said sports development should be encouraged because it acts as a catalyst for fostering peace and national development at all levels.

He added that government stands ready to partner with the private sector in the developing sport in the country.

Mr. Bwalya has since implored the church and civic leaders to incorporate sports in their extra curricular activities in their church activities for the young people.

And Victory Ministry International Bible Church Youth coordinator, Alex Katongo, said the objective of the tournament wais to evangelize to the youths through sport.

Mr. Katongo said the church will continue to organize such tournaments, which act as a platform for disseminating information to the youths on behavioural change.

Earlier Lusaka Province Sports coordinator Doris Mulenga said such tournaments keep the Youths away from vices.

ZANIS/JT/CMM/KSH/ENDS