CHAPTER One Foundation and Young Women in Action have commended the government on their efforts to improve gender diversity on public boards such as ZAMMSA and ZNBC.

In a joint statement issued, Monday, Chapter One Foundation Executive Director Linda Kasonde and Young Women in Action Executive Director Harriet Chibuta hoped that government would continue along the same trajectory.

“Chapter One Foundation is a civil society organisation established to promote and protect human rights, human rights defenders, constitutionalism, and the rule of law in Zambia. Young Women in Action is a non-governmental organisation that aims to improve and empower the lives of young women in Zambia. In line with our objectives, we believe that participatory rights, representation, and diversity are central to any democracy. On 18th January 2022, Chapter One Foundation and Young Women in Action filed in a joint complaint to the African Commission on Human and People’s Rights regarding the fact that there has been a consistent lack of diversity in public appointments and that the 18th August 2021 Constitutional Court judgement restricted the application of constitutional provisions that provide for diversity in public appointments; specifically regarding gender equality, and equitable representation of youth and disabled persons,” stated Kasonde and Chibuta.

“We would like to commend the Government on efforts to address the lack of gender diversity on the Zambia Medicines and Medical Supplies Agency (ZAMMSA), Zambia National Broadcasting Corporation (ZNBC), and representation of women on these boards. We hope that the government will continue along this trajectory, and we look forward to engagement on the issue of diversity not only in respect of gender but also youth and disabled persons.”