Women get survival skills

IN a bid to enhance women participation in economic activities, Solwezi Municipal Council has continued to train women in survivor skills.

According to the council, the move would foster self-reliance and creation of self-employment among women.

So far, 22 women in Kimasala ward were trained early this year and the skills training programme has now commenced in Sandangombe ward with a similar view.

The skills training being offered to women included bottle decor knitting, tailoring and other programmes.

Sandangombe ward councillor, Bernard Sokotela, stressed that women needed to learn essential skills that would improve their living standards and enable them start businesses and ultimately reduce poverty.

The councillors was speaking during the opening of the training session where he encouraged the women to be innovative.

"My appeal to all of you women that have been selected to undergo this training is that you concentrate so that by the time you finish the training, you will be able to stand on your own," he said.

Mr Sokotela applauded the local authority for coming up with such an initiative as it would reduce poverty among women.

Meanwhile, council director of Housing and Social Services, Andrew Kalemba, said the skills training was an opportunity for women to engage in income generating activities thus contributing to the third pillar of the Seventh National Development Plan.

The third pillar outlines poverty and vulnerability reduction.

Mr Kalemba was optimistic that the skills training would produce quality skilled women entrepreneurs who would be relevant to the current and emerging employment needs not just in Solwezi but the nation at large.