Dr Nguleka first female to head ZNFU

AFTER over a century, the Zambia National Farmers Union (ZNFU) has appointed a first female president, Evelyn Nguleka.
Dr Nguleka will head the ZNFU, which champions the promotion and protection of interests of farmers, individuals, companies and other organisations involved in the business of farming to achieve sustainable economic and social development.
The Non-Governmental Organisations Co-ordinating Council (NGOCC) has congratulated Dr Nguleka on her election during the 108th ZNFU annual congress held in Lusaka last week.
NGOCC executive director Engwase Mwale said the appointment of Dr Nguleka is a demonstration of the confidence the members have in her leadership.
“We write to congratulate you [Evelyn Nguleka] on your well-deserved election as president of the ZNFU. The development is also an expression of the growing confidence by society and Zambia in particular of women taking up decision-making positions.”
Mrs Mwale said this in a statement availed to the Daily Mail in Lusaka recently.
She said currently, Zambia faces a number of challenges in the agriculture sector which require urgent and lasting solutions.
“We, therefore, have no doubt that ZNFU and indeed the country will benefit from your leadership as you steer the organisation to even greater heights,” she said.
Mrs Mwale said NGOCC is an umbrella body for the women’s movement in Zambia and advocates, among others, the need for women to take up decision-making positions.
Mrs Mwale said NGOCC will continue to advocate  more women to take up decision-making positions so that Zambia can begin to gravitate towards the attainment of the Southern African Development Community (SADC) gender protocol and other international instruments.
The SADC gender protocol promotes 50/50 percent participation of women in key decision-making areas.
The protocol also encompasses commitments made in all regional, global and continental instruments for achieving gender equality in key decision making.