— Govt. calls for Gender mainstreaming in DEC,

Govt. calls for Gender mainstreaming in DEC,

Mumbwa, July 2,2014,ZANIS — Government advised the Drug Enforcement Commission [DEC] to consider gender mainstreaming by recruiting female officers in the country.

Mumbwa District Commissioner Sunday  Shamabanse says DEC in his district should consider employing female investigators to take care of the high number of women involved in drug related offences.

Mr. Shamabanse said the DEC office in Mumbwa currently has four male staff but without a female officer to take care of female suspects involved in drug related offences in the area.

He  said the district of later recorded a high number of people involved in the cultivation of cannabis and that women are more vulnerable as they are the first ones to be picked by officers.

ZANIS reports that the District Commissioner said when DEC Commissioner Alita Mbahwe paid a courtesy call on him at his office, this in Mumbwa today.

The DC also bemoaned lack of transport buy officers to effectively carryout their duties and inadequate office accommodation.

And Miss. Mbahwe expressed concern on the high number of drug related offences which she said Central Province was the highest.

She disclosed that out of 198 people arrested in Central Province over drug related offences, 31 were from Mumbwa District.

On gender mainstreaming, Miss Mbahwe said cabinet has already approved the new structure of the organization from the current 500 to 1,800 staff and that more women will be considered once authority to recruit is given.

Miss. Mbahwe is on a familiasation tour of Mumbwa, Kaoma and Mongu district to acquaint herself with the operations of her organization in the districts.