Maravi

Rupiah ‘turns’ cook on Women’s Day

Rupiah ‘turns’ cook on Women’s Day
Written by Masuzyo Chakwe

PRESIDENT Rupiah Banda yesterday jokingly said he would cook supper for his wife, Thandiwe at State House in line with the International Women’s Day. During the commemoration of the International Women’s Day at Mulungushi International Conference Centre under the theme ‘Equal sharing of responsibilities between women and men in the context of HIV and AIDS in Zambia, President Banda told the gathering that he would cook for his wife under the famous slogan “Ndani apika nshima?” while the crowd shouted “ni Banda.”

“In my case, I am going to believe that it has been established that today I am the one who is going to cook under the famous slogan ‘Azapika nsima lelo nindani?’ [who is going to cook nshima today?],” President Banda asked as the crowd shouted “ni Banda [it’s Banda].”

President Banda continued: “Ku State House, Azapika nsima nindani?”

The crowd shouted, “ni Banda.”

“Bamvwa a Mrs Banda kuti ndine niza mphika nsima lelo. [You have heard, Mrs Banda that I am the one who will cook nshima today],” President Banda said.

Earlier, President Banda said the government was working towards presenting a gender Bill in Parliament for consideration in this third session.

He said it was his expectation that all stakeholders would support the Bill to ensure that the scourge of violence against women and girls was eradicated.

President Banda said the theme for this year was very appropriate for Zambia because evidence clearly indicated that women and girls continue to unfairly bear the burden of care associated with child and health care and other household responsibilities at the expense of their own development.

He said while on the other hand men and boys sometimes face discriminatory barriers and practices, they could and do make contributions to gender equality in many ways, including as individuals and as members of families, social groups and communities.

President Banda said the theme also required that Zambians examine the equal sharing of responsibilities in the context of HIV and AIDS.

He said the government had recognised that men were critical partners in bringing about change towards addressing HIV and AIDS.

President Banda said men should therefore be sensitised and educated about their gender responsibilities in order to ensure that they take a more active role.

He said the government had acknowledged that the unequal sharing of responsibilities between men and women had negative consequences for the majority of girls and womenfolk and in this regard, Zambia’s Vision 2030 was to become a prosperous middle-income nation by 2030.

President said in order to address these challenges, some measures had been put in place, which included the introduction of human rights in the curricula at primary and secondary schools, which emphasises the equal responsibilities between boys and girls.

He said the other positive measure included the introduction of paternity leave for those employed in the public sector to encourage men to take an active role in childcare.

President Banda directed the media to partner with the Gender in Development Division as well as the Church to sensitise the public about the benefits of shared responsibilities.

And Non-Governmental Organisations Coordinating Council (NGOCC) board chairperson Marian Munyinda, who was represented by board publicity secretary Juliet Chibuta, said the HIV and AIDS pandemic had continued to have an adverse impact on women, both through infections and the burden of care giving.

Munyinda said there was need for men to take an active role in care giving so that the burden of care giving was not on one gender alone.

And United Nations resident coordinator Macleod Nyirongo said although Zambia had a long way to go, the government, civil society, private sector and cooperating partners were working to address gender disparities.

Nyirongo said it was crucial to recognise the role of women and girls and in this regard the United Nations in collaboration with the Royal Norwegian Embassy would be supporting GIDD to undertake a study called ‘care economy’ which would assess and measure the unpaid contribution of women to the Zambian economy.

Earlier in her sermon, Council of Churches in Zambia (CCZ) secretary general Reverend Suzanne Matale said women must be able to say when, where and how they should have sex.

Rev Matale said women were not inferior because men would not take to bed someone who was inferior.

And Gender permanent secretary Monde Yeta hoped that ultimately, women and men would share responsibilities and the women would find food on the table.

Labels: RUPIAH BANDA, WOMEN

posted by MrK @ 11:14 AM