PF Deputy Secretary General Mumbi Phiri says the Patriotic Front government has amplified women’s voices to levels they have never reached before.

And Phiri has argued that although there are a few administrative hiccups, the Social Cash Transfer has been a huge success in alleviating poverty among women.

Meanwhile, Phiri says Zambia is blessed to have a gender-sensitive Head of State because his commitment in matters of national development and gender equality has attracted due recognition from other quarters, such as the African Union (AU).

In the PF’s weekly newsletter to News Diggers! Phiri stated that GBV was a human rights issue because it was rooted in traditional and cultural unequal power relations between the genders, adding that it could only be effectively dealt with from its roots.

She stated that under their leadership, the Ministry of Gender and Child Development had continued with its commitment to protecting and promoting women’s rights, curbing GBV and reducing gender inequality.

“As a brain child and product of PF, the Ministry of Gender has made tremendous strides in prioritising the advancement of women and strengthening their capacity to influence decision-making at all levels. The portfolio functions of the Ministry include coordinating and monitoring the implementation of: the National Gender policy; the Matrimonial Causes Act; and the Anti-Gender Based Violence Act No. 1 of 2011. Key to all of this is the Economic Empowerment of Women as well as the prevention of GBV and the multidisciplinary management of survivors,” Phiri stated.

She observed that under the PF administration, women had progressed exponentially in their participation of national affairs and decision-making positions.

“Besides the standout appointment of Her Honour, Mrs Inonge Mutukwa Wina, as the first female Vice President of Zambia, there are other women’s voices in the nation today that reverberate individually and jointly. They have hit high notes and pitches through positions of leadership and decision-making across different sectors. The Patriotic Front has amplified women’s voices to levels they have never reached before,” she narrated.

And Phiri argued that although there had been a few administrative hiccups, the Social Cash Transfer had been a huge success in alleviating poverty among women.

“The PF government through a number of government agencies, such as the Ministry of Community Development has implemented various economic empowerment programmes, such as the Social Cash Transfer, to enable women to have a respectable measure of control over their own finances. Although there have been a few administrative hiccups, the Social Cash Transfer has been a huge success in alleviating poverty among women, particularly in the rural areas of our nation,” Phiri argued.

She stated that Zambia was also blessed to have a gender-sensitive in President Edgar Lungu because of his strong commitment in matters of national development and gender equality, which had attracted recognition from stakeholders like the AU.

“The Patriotic Front and the nation at large is blessed to have a gender-sensitive Head of State in President Edgar Chagwa Lungu. As our leader, his determination and steadfastness in matters of national development, including issues of gender equality and the fight against GBV, has attracted due recognition not only within our nation, but from many other quarters such as the African Union, who have recognized his valiant efforts in empowering women in various spheres. The United Nations women not long ago appointed him as the promoter for the He-for-She campaign, which advocates gender equality,” stated Phiri.

“As we commemorate 16 Days of Activism against GBV as well as World Aids Day and the International Day of Human Rights, I call upon all men to emulate the example of our Head of State in promoting gender equality. As a woman and a mother, I call upon all women to take advantage of the goodwill of the Patriotic Front government to advance the cause of the woman and the girl child.”