Civic leaders urge NGOs
Solwezi, April 12, ZANIS ——- A civic leader in Solwezi has appealed to Non Governmental Organization (NGOs) working with various women groups to consider revising conditions for membership.
Kibanza Ward Councillor Kelvin Ndandanda said conditions for membership such as meeting the number of 50 women to form a community based development group is a limiting factor to advancing the well being of rural women.
Councillor Ndandanda said it is difficult for women in rural communities to meet the condition because of the distances between their villages which are also disadvantaging them.
The civic leader was speaking during an interactive meeting with women groups in his ward at Mutanda community hall.
Councillor Ndandanda noted that women in rural areas are not actively involved in development initiatives like their urban folks and should not be subjected to the same membership requirements.
He said women in rural communities are ready to work with NGOs that will support their cause and advance there well being.
And NGO Coordination Committee Regional office Coordinator Priscilla Mwansa said the condition on membership is a requirement to ensure that membership of groups is broad enough.
Ms Mwansa explained that for any NGO to work with any community based development group it has to meet the required minimum membership of 50 women per group.
She however added that this requirement has not stopped most NGOs in the district from working with rural communities.
And Lunvwangano women’s representative Ruth Maseka said women are appreciating what Barrick Lumwana mine is doing in up lifting the living standards of the people.
Ms Maseka said without the Lumwana mine starting the community based programmes in education, micro finance and agriculture, the rural women would have not known anything.
Barrick Lumwana mine has been supporting various groups in Kibanza Ward through empowerment programmes.