President Lungu with leaders of the women groups.
President Edgar Lungu has described the meeting he had with women groups organised under an umbrella body NGOCC as fruitful.
The Women met President Lungu at State House on Friday and presented their concerns in a meeting that lasted for over an hour. NGOCC Board Chairperson Sara Longwe presented the report.
President Lungu says:
We discussed a wide range of issues affecting women such as gender equality, constitution making process, the bill of rights, women’s rights on the establishment of the Gender Equality Commission provided for under the recently enacted Gender Equality Act.
It is with a sense of humility that l accept the many useful suggestions and contributions from women movements through NGOCC presented to me.
I will ensure that those issues which we can address through legal reforms before the dissolution of Parliament.
I appreciate the concerns of the NGOCC regarding the holding of the referendum on the same day with the general elections and l will be presenting this matter to various stakeholders such as the Electoral Commission of Zambia.
Lungu having a light moment with women on grounds of State House after the meeting
I encourage the NGOCC to help spread the message of non-violence ahead of the August 11 elections.
Their presentation on the high cost of living, political violence and the feminisation of poverty are matters of shared concern and l commit to addressing these issues with the support of progressive parties both State and non State actors such as NGOCC.
I wholeheartedly accept the NGOCC congratulations and support to me personally and the PF regarding our policies on gender equality particularly my pledge to adopt 40 percent of women at both Parliamentary and Local Government levels in the coming elections.
Together we can build a free, fair and humane society devoid of gender inequalities and discrimination.
I look forward to the next meeting with NGOCC at a mutually agreed time. Thankyou Zambia God bless you all.