By CHILA NAMAIKO –

GOODWILL ambassador for the Roll Back Malaria (RBM) partnership, Yvonne Chaka Chaka has challenged delegates to the 134th Inter Parliamentary Union (IPU) to lobby for more empowerment schemes for women.

Yvonne, who is a renowned South African musician and also goodwill ambassador for the United Nations Children’s emergency Fund (UNICEF) has since called on women globally to also aspire for higher decision-making positions to reduce their vulnerability.

She said many women in Africa and worldwide have the potential of becoming good leaders, but that, despite being educated, their efforts were not being appreciated.

She was speaking in Lusaka yesterday when she made a presentation at the on-going 134th IPU Assembly and related meetings being held at Mulungushi International Conference Centre.

The IPU Assembly, which was opened by President Edgar Lungu on Saturday evening, is being held under the theme ‘Rejuvenating democracy: Giving voice to youth’.

Yvonne observed that in many instances, women were hindered to progress due to barriers such as traditional, religious and cultural norms in many countries.

She said women have rights equal to thaose of men, and should be given higher responsibilities including at work places.

Visiting Chairperson of the Standing Committee of the National People’s Congress of China, Zhang Dejiang said his country would continue to provide financial support to many African countries to realise the objectives of various programmes of development.

Mr Zhang said China was committed to advancing the cooperation with African countries to grow their economies and democracy.