NEW GENDER MINISTER ASSURES NATION
appointed Gender Minister Elizabeth Phiri has pledged to work towards strengthening gender equality in all spheres of society and en- sure that no one is left behind in the development of the nation.
Ms Phiri who is Kanyama Member of Parliament said time had come for the country and the world at large to recognise efforts being put in place to advance gender equality and the fight against all forms of discrimination of one gender.
She assured women in business of her commitment to expose them to local and international platforms so as to offer them opportunities to pursue the frontiers of acceptable global business standards.
She said the Ministry of Gender was perceived to favour women and girls as compared to men and boys and this has contributed to men feeling neglected in the operations of the Ministry.
The minister said the ministry would work towards advocating for gender mainstreaming in all the five pillars of the Seventh National Development Plan (SNDP) and provide guidelines to public and private sectors on how to mainstream gender in their operations.
She said the ministry would engage men as champions of gender equality and provide an enabling environment for both men and women to participate in national development.
Ms Phiri also pledged to continue fighting cultural beliefs which portray women to be a weaker sex than men and continue perpetuating gender inequality.