‘Govt and chiefs should empower women’

GOVERNMENT should work with traditional leaders in promoting women land rights and ownership, the Zambia National Women’s Lobby (ZNWL) has said.

ZNWL Mkushi chairperson, Getrude Banda, said empowering women with land, be it customary or state, would enhance the livelihood of women as land was a resource.

Ms Banda said Government and traditional leadership should prioritise empowering women with land because they were the most vulnerable in society.

She said if women owned land their vulnerability could be reduced because they would use the resource as capital and venture into real estate and farming.

The ZNWL was speaking in an interview with the Daily Nation. “We are reiterating the call to Government and traditional leadership to promote and enhance women land ownership.

“Government should prioritise allocating land to women than men because they are mostly vulnerable in society. Promoting women land ownership will empower them economically as it is a resource,” Ms Banda said.

Ms Banda however hailed Mkushi’s chief Chitina for promoting women land ownership in his chiefdom.

She urged other chiefs to emulate chief Chitina who has taken a good stance to promote women land ownership in his chiefdom for development.

president Hakainde Hichilema should emulate President Edgar Lungu and denounce violence if indeed he means well for Zambia, Zambia Jubilee Coalition (ZJC) has said.

ZJC Secretary General, Kwaela Mwanza, said the UPND leader should denounce violence and tame his violent cadres

He said the opposition had also gone on a tirade of disrespectful conduct towards Government officials.

Mr Mwanza said it was unfortunate that UPND deputy spokesperson, Cornelius Mwetwa, could justify his demeaning words against Vice-President, Inonge Wina, as freedom of speech.

“Madam Inonge Mutukwa Wina should not be respected only on account of being the Vice president of Zambia but because she is old enough for even Mr Mweetwa to call mother,” Mr Mwanza said.

Mr Hakainde

Mr Mwanza registered his displeasure with the political violence that happened in Mufulira between UPND cadres and their PF counterpart.

He said it was sad that some political party leaders were celebrating violence as a sign of dominance of the Copperbelt.

“We therefore call upon UPND realise that every life regardless of political affiliations is precious and that they must openly distance themselves or condemn the violence instead of celebrating it,” he said.

Mr Mwanza said has commended President Edgar Lungu for displaying mature leadership and wisdom by guiding his cadres not pay evil for evil.

“This shows political maturity and love and care for the lives of the Zambian Youth and the general populace as a whole,” Mr Mwanza said.

He has called on we further call on Ms Wina not to be distracted in her quest to build a better Zambia for all.

Mr Mwanza demanded that Mr Mweetwa should be magnanimous enough to apologise as this was one way he would prove that he was well-cultured with real Zambian cultural background.