By ESTHER NG’ANDU –

THE Association of Vendors and Marketeers (AVEMA) on the Copperbelt has praised the women empowerment programmes being undertaken by the Patriotic Front (PF) Government.
AVEMA chairperson, Bertha Mwansa said the PF Government’s empowerment programmes were  a clear indication of its commitment to improving the welfare of women in the country.
Ms Mwansa said in an interview yesterday that since the PF Government was elected by mostly women, the association was happy with the massive support it was receiving aimed at uplifting their welfare through viable projects.
“We are happy as an organisation because the PF Government has always been on our side especially  in fighting vices that hinder women’s progress and has shown determination through its works,” she said.
She stated that recently, the Government gave women soft loans, helped them to access land and obtain title deeds under the Presidential loan Initiative in order to empower them.
“For the first time in the history of Zambia, women have received unprecedented support from the Government in terms of empowerment programmes,” Ms Mwansa said.
She said there was need to invest in women economic empowerment through access to land and soft loans as demonstrated by the PF Government through the leadership of President Edgar Lungu.
She said Government attached great importance to the role women played in the country and had since put measures that could reduce poverty.