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—Women in Kalomo have challenged government to explain why they are not instrumental tools to contribute to national economic development when in fact they provide for the household daily living of families in society.
Kalomo and Zimba Women Association (KAZIWA) chairperson, Anick Lubinda, made the challenge at Moonde Basic School in Kalomo yesterday when Southern Province Minister, Daniel Munkombwe, witnessed the creative efforts made by over 200 women’s clubs to showcase their contribution in various income generating activities and artefacts in the two districts.
“As women, we can contribute to the country’s economy if well empowered but the problem is that no club, regardless of being registered, has received any assistance from either the gender or community development ministries despite numerous pronouncements by government to empower the youth and the women in the country and having completed the necessary application forms,” Lubinda lamented.
Meanwhile, Munkombwe has urged registered women’s clubs to keep on knocking for their empowerment, saying government was listening to their cries but that there were too many of such entities that need help from government .
Mr Minkombwe assured that time will soon come when all shall be accorded the chance to benefit from their national entitlements.
The exhibition for women in the two districts, spearheaded by Van Sianalucha, aims to bring all the clubs together in an effort to access either material or financial assistance from would be well-wishers for the womenfolk to effectively contribute to household food security and in turn foster rural development in their particular localities.
The show was attended by Kalomo District Commissioner, Lucia Mwiinde, with her Livingstone counterpart, Omar Munsanje and the three chiefs in the two districts, chief Simwatachela of Zimba and Sipatunyana and Siachitema of Kalomo apart from chief Chikanta who was busy on other national duties.
And chief Siachitema of Kalomo has lamented over the rampant felling down of trees in his chiefdom and called on government to put stiffer laws that would prevent deforestation, especially for charcoal and tobacco curing, the trend which is very rife in his chiefdom.
The traditional leaders’ cry was echoed by chief Sipatunyana who also prodded government to find alternative cheap energy sources for the low income generating bracket of society if the vice was to be arrested.
