HICHILEMA’S JUSTIFICATION & DECISION TO PHASE OUT THE MINISTRY of GENDER, A BLOW TO G€NDER EQUALITY.
••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••
02 – December, 2024 Monday.
As the National Chairlady of the opposition Citizens First Party and United Kwacha Alliance, I am appalled by President Hakainde Hichilema’s recent justification and supporting his decision to phase out the Ministry of Géñder.
The President should know that the move is not only a betrayal of w0men’s trust but also a clear indication of his lack of confidence in women leadership.
The Ministry of Gender played a vital role in promoting w0men’s empowerment, géñder equality, and social inclusion. By abolishing this ministry, President Hichilema is essentially dismissing the importance of these issues.
His justification that; the ministry had a fémàle minister before his tenure and still achieved nothing is not only misleading but also shameful and disrespectful to the women who have worked tirelessly to advance gender equality in Zambia.
Maybe I should lecture Mr Hichilema on some of the benefits of having a gender ministry……
Having a Ministry of Géñder provides a platform for women’s voices to be heard, addresses gender-based violence, and promotes women’s economic empowerment. Furthermore, a gender ministry ensures that w0men are included in decision-making processes, which is essential for achieving sustainable development.
Instead of phasing out the ministry, President Hichilema should have taken steps to strengthen it. This could have included providing adequate funding, staffing, and resources to ensure the ministry’s effectiveness.
The President’s decision to have only four fémàle full cabinet ministers out of twenty-five is also telling of his lack of confidence in women leadership. This is despite the fact that women are the majority voters in Zambia and make up the majority of the population. Women deserve special attention and should be part and parcel of national decisions.
I urge the nation to see President Hichilema’s true colors. His appointment of Mama Mutale Nalumango as Vice President was not a genuine attempt to promote women’s leadership but rather a calculated move to win the fémale vote in 2021.
In conclusion, President Hichilema’s decision to phase out the Ministry of Gender is a step backward for w0men’s empowerment and génder equality in Zambia. I call upon all Zambians to join me in condemning this decision and demanding that the President takes concrete steps to promote w0men’s leadership and empowerment.
Namayo Pantanshi… Muzimayi Pasogolo campaign!
MUNTHALI Faith.
NATIONAL CHAIRLADY; CITIZENS FIRST/UNITED KWACHA ALLIANCE (UKA).