The Long Way Towards Gender

The Zambian Government’s commitment towards gender implementation has improved. However, there is still a long way to go, says gender consultant Mrs. Honorine Muyoyeta.

By Nchimunya Nkengele, NewZ reporter

In September 1995 Zambia and many other nations participated in the Beijing Conference, held in China.

The conference was hosted by the United Nations and the objective was to discuss issues of women from all circles of life. These countries, Zambia included, committed themselves to incorporate gender in the national policies.

During the mid term review, five years later in New York, all members were well represented, except for Zambia, which had not performed well.

30 percent of the directives on gender should have been implemented by then.

“We should have a deliberate policy to ensure that women are participating. Our leaders should be committed,” says Mrs. Honorine Muyoyeta.

The situation is promising

However, the current situation is promising. According to Mrs. Honorine Muyoyeta a gender wing headed by the Permanent Secretary has been established by the Zambian Government.

“This is both an advantage and opportunity for the issue to be given priority, since it falls under the Office of Vice President. The gender policy has also been developed, which the Zambian people can actually use to take Government to task, bearing in mind that Zambia is a signatory to the SADC gender declaration, which implies that they committed themselves to implement the 30% directive. The only draw back has been lack of sensitisation at the grass root level,” says Mrs. Muyoyeta.

She says that women need to be much more fearless in the fight for gender and stand together.

“The women should build a critical mass. It’s a lonely battle. Women that are intimidated should put their feet down. Nobody will do it for them. Women have to wake up. As women we should realize that we have this nurturing power, we should transform the power and governess it,” she says.      

“It is not good that for example the women parliamentarians rush home to cook and wash for their husbands while the men stay back and discuss developmental issues,” says Mrs. Muyoyeta.