By CATHERINE NYIRENDA, JAMES KUNDA, KASONDE KASONDE and ANDREW PHIRI –
WOMEN across the country yesterday commemorated the International Women’s Day as President Edgar Lungu called for concerted efforts to promote gender equality.
Mr Lungu has also called for non discrimination against the girl child emphasising that families should help children realise their potential in life.
“ My message to the nation is that at all times, let us focus on the family unit as a cornerstone for implementing programmes aimed at attaining gender equality,” he said.

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The President said this in a speech read on his behalf by Gender Minister Nkandu Luo at the commemoration of International Women’s Day (IWD) under the theme “Gender my agenda, let it happen.”
Mr Lungu said gender equality had the potential of promoting massive development in a country.
He said research around the world had shown that countries which had practiced gender equality had constantly registered better social and economic growth.
He said Government was committed to promoting gender equality as evidenced in the number of women he had appointed to key decision making positions.
Mr Lungu mentioned Vice-President Inonge Wina and Chief Justice Irene Mambilima which he said was a clear resolve to promoting women’s participation in decision making.
He said that the PF Government was working towards achieving 50 /50 per cent participation of women and men in decision making positions in order to bring about gender equality.
Mr Lungu said that he was encouraged to note that since 2011, the PF Government has stepped up interventions in the health sector which had resulted in positive growth in maternal health such as safe delivery of babies from clinics and hospitals.
He said that Government would accelerate the construction if the 650 health posts and hospitals and the country.
Non Governmental Coordinating Council (NGOCC) chairperson Sara Longwe commended President Lungu for carrying over President Michael Sata’s legacy by appointing women to key decision making positions.
Ms Longwe however, expressed concern that 50 years after independence, there were only few women in Parliament and at local government level.
Evangelical Fellowship of Zambia president Pukuta Mwanza called for special attention to rural women in the promotion of gender equality.
Mr Lungu at the same function honoured the late President Michael Sata for championing gender equality in the country.
In Kabwe, Chiefs and Traditional Affairs Minister Joseph Katema said Government was implementing several programmes to bridge the gap between men and women to foster equality.
Dr Katema said Government was also addressing issues of poverty amongst women especially in the rural areas.
In Chipata, Mines, Energy and Water Development Minister Christopher Yaluma said Government would soon start implementing a rural empowerment programme to help address financial challenges among women.
Mr Yaluma said the partnership programme between the ministries of Gender and Child Development and Chiefs and Traditional Affairs would also address the challenges of teenage pregnancies among other issues.
Mr Yaluma said this when he officiated at the International Women’s Day commemoration in Chipata yesterday.
In Livingstone, Health Minister Joseph Kasonde said that Government says it will continue implementing programmes aimed at bridging the gap between men and women.
Dr Kasonde said such activities would also help in curbing gender based violence (GBV).
He said Government was committed to issues of poverty reduction and capacity building for women among others.
Speaking in Nakonde yesterday when he officiated at this year’s celebrations, Health Deputy Minister Chitalu Chilufya reiterated Government’s commitment to advancing gender equality causes.
Speaking at the same occasion, Nakonde District chairperson for Women’s Day organising committee, Mwaka Namukonda, said almost 80 per cent of gender based violence (GBV) cases in Nakonde were perpetrated against women.
She appealed to the police to ensure that such cases are prosecuted.
In Ndola, the Catholic Diocese of Ndola-women development programme called on the Government to expedite empowerment aid to women groups in business to boost entrepreneurial skills.
Programme coordinator Angela Munthali, who is also Ndola district gender sub-committee chairperson said there were over 20 women groups in the region still waiting for Government funding for business ventures.
Foreign Affairs Minister Harry Kalaba, who graced the commemorations at the Civic Centre, pledged that the Government would ensure that funds were availed to empower women in business.