Maravi

International Women’s Day is a day of demands, says Kunda

International Women’s Day is a day of demands, says Kunda
By Mwala Kalaluka, Mwila Chansa and Christopher Miti
Tue 09 Mar. 2010, 08:00 CAT

CADRES from the UPND-PF Pact yesterday stole the limelight from the MMD cadres during this year's International Women's Day march past in Lusaka, after they received a rousing acclamation. And Vice-President George Kunda has classified International Women's Day as a day of demands.

During the march past that preceded the official ceremony at Mulungushi International Conference Centre, the PF-UPND Pact women clearly outnumbered those from the MMD.

The MMD cadres had told the marchers that they wanted to be the last to file past Vice-President George Kunda, forcing the PF-UPND Pact into second position.

When all the other people had passed and saluted Vice-President Kunda who was at the saluting dais with gender minister Sara Sayifwanda, the PF-UPND women led by Mandevu PF member of parliament Jean Kapata filed past carrying a banner written 'Unstoppable Pact'.

As soon as most of the people who were watching the proceedings from various vantages, saw the long queue of women cadres from the pact, they started applauding whilst raising symbols for the two parties.

Vice-President Kunda was seen smiling as Sayifwanda just waved at the 'endless' group.
Lusaka Mayor Robert Chikwelete who was in the company of UNDP country representative MacLeod Nyirongo, was also seen waving.

But Chipangali MMD parliamentarian Vincent Mwale responded by raising the ruling party symbol while doing a little dance. Mwale was supported by a sizeable number of MMD cadres who had lined up on the other side of the saluting dais.

The group of MMD cadres arrived on the scene immediately the PF-UPND cadres had exhausted their act and they were led by gender deputy minister Lucy Changwe.

Vice-President Kunda and some ministers and deputy ministers on his side were seen raising the MMD symbol and laughing in amusement but the response from the watching crowd was mild.

Only a few people could be seen raising the MMD symbol from the crowd while others just remained non-committal, as the MMD cadres filed past the dais.

But before Vice-President Kunda could retreat to the tent where other activities were lined up, the cadres from the PF and UPND came back in front of the saluting dais while shouting, “Let's go pact, let's go.”

Some security personnel directed the cadres away from the tarmac, as Mwale and other MMD parliamentarians were seen raising their hands in total disbelief over the move by the UPND and PF cadres.

However, the act from the pact cadres was met with applause.
Sayifwanda said later that the 2011 elections were an opportunity to add to the number of women in Parliament.

“2011 all women in Parliament now should be retained and add the number,” Sayifwanda said. “2011 we make addition, not subtraction.”

Nyirongo, who also read UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon's message at the occasion, said the women's struggle for equality was a worthy one.

“We have a long way to deal with these challenges,” Nyirongo said.
Nyirongo said the fight for women's equal opportunities was one aimed at redeeming the lost opportunities for half of the population.

And Vice-President Kunda said in accordance with the women's demands, International Women's Day had been declared a public holiday.

“And of course you will continue with demands. This is a day for demands. We have taken note of the demands. As usual we are a listening government and we are taking note,” Vice-President Kunda said.

Vice-President Kunda said it was his firm belief that through the National Constitutional Conference (NCC) the country was shaping a better facilitation for enhanced equal rights and opportunities for both men and women.
He said the government's commitment was also visible in the enhanced financial allocation to the Gender in Development Division (GIDD).

In Kitwe, district commissioner Macdonald Mtine urged women to use their influence in fostering peace and unity in the country.

During the commemorations at City Square in Kitwe, Mtine said he was pleased to see women from all political parties march together in harmony.

“Our ladies in Kitwe have demonstrated that despite coming from different political parties, they can still come together for a common good. This only goes to show that it is the men who cause enmity,” Mtine said.

“So I want to urge you our women to call upon the menfolk to stop fighting and begin to love one another. You can call for reconciliatory meetings for the men who can't reconcile and you can also instruct them to stop insulting each other because they are teaching children bad manners.”

Mtine added that the government had recognized the worth of women and was striving to empower them so as to alleviate poverty.

He observed that since women were generous in nature, empowering them would benefit the entire nation because they were always willing to share the little they had.

Mtine urged men to treat women as their equals.
Kitwe District Women's Day organising committee chairperson Grace Mikunga said Zambia was still crawling in terms of having many women in decision-making positions.

Mikunga explained that by calling for equal rights, women were not fighting men.
“But rather, we are fighting the norms, systems, beliefs, cultures and stereotypes that perpetuate the discrimination of one sex over the other.

Both men and women should stand up and say no to these injustices,” Mikunga said.
In Chipata, Eastern Province minister Isaac Banda said the government was worried about the negative effects of violence against women and girls.

During the commemoration at Chipata Golf Course, Banda said the government would continue providing resources to eradicate gender violence at all levels.

“The government in line with eighth Millennium Development Goal has put in place the following to address issues relating to gender-based violence (1) the national gender policy which is operational and due for review, (ii) gender mainstreaming organ in public service, (iii) the national action plan on sexual and gender-based violence which was developed in 2007, and (iv) the national action plan on women, girls and HIV and AIDS,” Banda said.

He said the government had also acceded to and ratified all the international instruments including the convention on the elimination of all forms of discrimination against women, the convention on the rights of the child, and signatory to the African chapter on human and people rights which include women's rights.

Provincial permanent secretary Eularia Syamujaye said gender equality would not be there if men did not support women.

Syamujaye said it was good that men had stopped trivialising women issues.
GIDD chairperson, Joyce Mkandawire said there was need to deal with gender issues comprehensively.

Mkandawire called for practical and deliberate steps by the government to put in place both the legal framework that would improve the status of women and supporting policies for implementation.

Meanwhile, some women allegedly shunned the event after the organisers told them to contribute K20,000 for participation and K5,000 for a drink.

According to a source, the women mostly from villages said they were not ready to pay the money because the event was sponsored by the government.

Labels: CADRES, GEORGE KUNDA, WOMEN

posted by MrK @ 6:58 PM