• Zambia has continued to be one of the least compliant countries across the globe on promoting gender equality.
• Women are still underrepresented in public life and decision-making, as revealed in the UN Secretary-General’s recent report.
• It is a notable fact that women’s full and effective participation in all areas of life drives progress for everyone.

Centre for Trade Policy and Development (CTPD) observes that women are still underrepresented in public life and decision making as evidenced by low level of representation in strategic decision-making spaces such as parliament.

CTPD Executive Director Isaac Mwaipopo told Money FM News in a statement that the organization however recognizes that several women have been in the forefront in the fight against COVID 19, as frontline and Health sector workers, as Scientists, Doctors and caregivers.

Mr. Mwaipopo paid growing tribute to women involved in mining, cross border trade, and all other sectors of the economy for their contribution to the country’s economic development.

“It is a notable fact that women’s full and effective participation and leadership in all areas of life drives progress for everyone. Yet women are still underrepresented in public life and decision making. Manifested through low level of representation in strategic decision-making spaces such as parliament.”

“We also take time to reflect on the strides in enhancing women leadership. When women lead, we see positive results. For example, some of the most efficient and exemplary responses to the Covid 19 pandemic were led by women,” Mr. Mwaipopo said.

And ActionAid Zambia urged government to consider complying with commitments made of upholding women’s rights to be in leadership positions at all levels and in varying institutions.

Organization Country Director Nalucha Ziba said as revealed in the United Nations UN Secretary-General’s recent report, women are still underrepresented in public life and decision-making.

Ms. Ziba notes that despite having ratified several regional and international instruments that advocate for equal participation and representation of women in decision-making positions, Zambia’s performance in upholding more women to be in leadership positions is still very low.
“Zambia has continued to be one of the least compliant countries across the globe on promoting gender equality. It is worrying to see the country’s performance deteriorating over time which could be attributed to many factors such as lack of deliberate efforts in practical actualization of gender in national development process such as the operationalization of the gender commission and the appointment of women in key leadership positions.”

“We demand for deliberate efforts by government to ensure all instruments are put into action regarding having more women appointed into positions of leadership as the status of women representation is not a matter of negotiation but their right in leadership which is backed by the law and national policies in place,” Ms. Nalucha stated.

She further challenged government to be accountable to Zambians by acting on the commitments they made of adhering to promoting gender equity and equality.

“We therefore challenge government to appoint more women in key positions in all sectors of the economy to promote progressive development and allow the utilization of the most needed pull of skilled human resource in varying sectors of the Zambian Economy. Even as we are in an election year, the call for the Zambian government to promote gender equality is a matter of urgency. Women should rise up and challenge all cultural and social barriers that prevent them to participate in governance and developmental issues,” she added.