By SYLVIA MWEETWA in Walvis Bay, Namibia
PRESIDENT Edgar Lungu has said his wish is to see to it that a woman will one day lead Zambia as Republican president.
The President said there was need to continue with efforts to empower more women in decision-making because they made good leaders.

•PRESIDENT Edgar Lungu (right) and his Namibian counterpart Hage Geingob (second from right) during a tour of Husab Uranium Mine in Arandis Region, Namibia, yesterday. Picture by SALIM HENRY/STATE HOUSE

Mr Lungu said that women made good leaders and needed to be supported.
He was speaking after touring the Chinese Group Nuclear Power Company (CGNPC) in Swakop, Walvis Bay, under the invitation of Namibian President Hage Geingob.
Mr Lungu said women should be given roles to play not only in mining and agriculture but also opportunities to be leaders so as to allow them mentor others.
He was of the view that women were capable of driving the country’s economic development if given chance and reaffirmed his commitment to ensuring that this was realised.
“Like I have stated before, women should be given a chance to be mentors to others but that can only happen if support is given, my hope is that the next president will be a woman and that is possible,” President said. The head of state said women could excel in the economic field like their male counterparts and that as President of Zambia, he would always give them support because they were key partners in the country’s growth.
Dr Geingob said women were proving to be able to carry out various tasks in various fields.
A woman identified as Sirilla Carla_Otsch, who drove a 625-tonne truck, demonstrated to the two presidents her daily schedule while working on the mine.
Meanwhile, Mr Lungu has said Zambia is in talks with other countries over the importance of regional integration within the Southern African Development Community (SADC) in addressing challenges being faced in the railway line sector.
President Lungu further described his visit to Walvis Bay under the invitation of Dr Geingob as an eye-opener for the country in addressing some challenges faced in the region.
Mr Lungu told journalists after touring the Zambian dry port in Walvis Bay yesterday that the port and railway network were important in spearheading economic development.
He said Zambia and other African countries were currently looking at the bigger picture of the 2063 Agenda of ensuring issues affecting the rail network were addressed.
President Lungu last night arrived back in Zambia after his two-day visit to Namibia.