HH WANTS MORE WOMEN IN POLITICS
“Politics were so violent that women could not run for executive positions. When you have a social media that is so aggressive and abusive against women and society as a whole, most women shy away from running for public office. That is why this government wants to sustain civility in politics, so that more women can become councilors, mayors, MPs and therefore ministers. So let us work together in this space to ensure there is civility in politics,” President said.
The President cautioned the Councillors and Council Chairpersons against fights over Constituency Development Fund (CDF) as that money was meant to ensure provision of water and sanitation and a maternity ward for safe delivery for women.
He has reiterated that each health facility no matter the vicinity, ought to have clean water and a maternity wing, and CDF should be used for such purpose.
And responding to calls by the Non-Governmental Gender Organisations’ Coordinating Council (NGOCC) for the establishment of a Gender Ministry, the President said it was not true that only a woman Gender Minister would advance women interest, but that it was the policies and the love for women and children and desire for stable homes that would promote women’s agenda.
Mr Hichilema stated that investing in a girl-child, was investing in a stronger woman capable of accelerating progress in society. He admitted that there was no male without a female, and vice versa.
“I must confess that all men are weak before women. But we pretend that we are stronger. I want my daughter, our daughters, our women to know this secret, if you understand this secret, you will manage men easier. I think it’s not a weakness but a strength. And we men need to know that we have the duty to ensure we sustain our family better by supporting our women,” the head of State said.
And United Nations System Resident Coordinator, Ms Beatrice Mutali announced that an increased in empowerment funding a smart agriculture from US$500,000 last year to US$1 million in 2024.