WINA

By NAKUBIANA MUMBUNA
-
GENDER and Child Development Minister Inonge Wina has saluted Zambian women for their resilience in pursuit of a better Zambia.
The minister stated that despite the challenges that women face in Zambia they have continued to contribute immensely to Zambia’s economic development citing mining and agriculture as sectors in which women participated.
Ms Wina also commended the Zambian women for their continued participation across all sectors despite hardships they have endured throughout the years.
“As Government, we will in this regard continue to employ strategies to create a vibrant business environment that will open business opportunities for both women and men,” she said.
Ms Wina said this during the National Women Economic Empowerment Jubilee Expo in Lusaka that has attracted women from all the 10 provinces of Zambia.
She said Government would continue supporting women, saying doing so was critical for building stronger economies.
“The world now acknowledges that investment in women is simply smart economics,” she said.
The minister further acknowledged that women did not only make immense contributions at national but also at household  levels.
Ms Wina, however, said Government was gravely concerned with gender inequalities which bred gender-based violence (GBV).
She has since called on all Zambians to continue denouncing GBV in the strongest terms as it was an impediment to national development.
The expo is expected to run until July 23, 2014.
Objectives of the Expo which is expected to run up to July 23, 2014 include providing a platform for engagement between policy makers, regulators, cooperating partners, implementing institutions, financial and lending institutions and women entrepreneurs on challenges and opportunities for accelerating financial inclusion of women.