VEEP assures South Women of Support

REPUBLICAN vice president Inonge Wina has assured the people of Southern Province particularly the women of government's commitment towards empowering them. Ms Wina said that it was government's priority to empower women and girls in Zambia. Speaking at Harry Mwaanga Nkumbula International Airport in Livingstone on Sunday morning, Ms Wina said empowering women and young girls was the only way the country could develop. “It is a priority number one of government of empowering women in Zambia because we know that as a country, we cannot develop without effective participation of women and young people," she said. "I can promise the minister of Southern Province that empowerment programmes will be seen in Livingstone through the line ministries as well as the presidential initiative fund," she said. Ms Wina said the coordinator of the presidential initiative fund would be informed accordingly about the plight of the women in the province. "The women in Livingstone are also anxious to benefit from these programmes like it is happening in other parts of the country," the vice President said. She was responding to the concerns that were raised by Southern Province Minister Edify Hamukale that women in the province were in need of empowerment funds and support from Government. Dr Hamukale informed the vice president that women in the province had formed cooperatives as directed last time when she was in the province. The vice president was in Livingstone to officiate at the 12th International Conference of the Girls Brigade which is being held for the first time on the African Continent.