Education key to national development

Two senior female citizens have called for continued investments in the education of women and girls across the country, in order to foster economic development.

Lily Monze who served as Zambia’s Minister of State in the Kenneth Kaunda led administration, says educating female folk should be top priority.

Mrs. Monze told ZANIS in an interview that she believes that, once a woman is educated, it not only helps her home but generations to come.

“The first area to consider is education, if we do not educate the mothers properly, there will be no talking of education in that home, later education is in schools but all these areas depend on national resources. It is fantastic that Zambia has put children in school, it is really a miracle of miracles and it should be supported,” said Mrs. Monze.

She narrated that growing up as a young woman there were very few areas of operation for an African woman, it was either one became a teacher, a nurse or Social Welfare worker, adding that she decided to become a teacher.

She also said, men as individuals would not like to be at par with women.

“I believe in equal rights and I fought for that through and through. Women should not lag behind but work together with men to build this country,” she added.

And speaking in a separate interview, Zambia’s first female Civil Engineer Lucie

Kasanga said she is excited about investing in women.

“I am excited about investing in women because we have been so disadvantaged and now there are several opportunities. We have no excuse. If we can have more female engineers and scientists because women analyse problems by looking at a piece at a time, so let us invest more in women and ensure they get the education and the backing for whatever they have a passion for. Not only education, I am also excited when I see women being empowered,” she said.

Ms. Kasanga also said the future is bright for females and investing in women will only lead to a better world.

She encouraged women and girls to be who they are and not let others define them.

“Be who you are and have passion for what you do, if you do so, what you aspire will come to fruition,” added Ms. Kasanga.

The two women, were speaking ahead of this year’s International Women’s Day which will be commemorated on March 8, 2024 under the theme: Invest in Women and Girls: Accelerate Progress.