CCZ HAS EXPRESSES DISAPPOINTMENT AT THE LOW ADOPTION OF WOMEN TO PARTICIPATE IN THIS YEAR’S GENERAL ELECTIONS

THE COUNCIL OF CHURCHES IN ZAMBIA (CCZ) HAS EXPRESSED DISAPPOINTMENT AT THE LOW ADOPTION OF WOMEN TO PARTICIPATE IN THIS YEAR’S GENERAL ELECTIONS AS COUNCILORS OR MEMBER OF PARLIAMENT.

SPEAKING IN AN INTERVIEW WITH RADIO PHOENIX TODAY IN LUSAKA CCZ GENERAL SECRETARY REVEREND SUSAN MATALE SAYS ALL THE POLITICAL PARTIES IN THE COUNTRY HAVE IGNORED THE SOUTHERN AFRICA DEVELOPMENT COMMUNITY PROTOCOL ON THE ATTAINMENT OF A 50-50 REPRESENTATION.

REVEREND MATALE SAYS THERE IS LITTLE HOPE THAT THE NEXT SESSION WILL SEEN THE PERCENTAGE WHICH STOOD AT 15 PERCENT WOMEN REPRESENTATION IN PARLIAMENT LAST SESSION TO INCREASE TO 20 PERCENT GOING UPWARDS.

SHE NOTES THAT MOST OF THE PARTIES HAVE NOT PAID ATTENTION TO WOMEN BUT HAVE INSTEAD CONTINUED TO MARGINALIZE AND STEREOTYPE THEM WITHOUT GIVING THEM CHANCE TO SHOW WHAT THEY ARE CAPABLE OF DOING.

MEANWHILE THE CHURCH HAS APPLAUDED PRESIDENT BANDA THE OPPOSITION FOR PREACHING PEACE AS THE NATION GOES TO THE ELECTIONS STATING THAT THIS TREND MUST NOT BE BROKEN BUT UPHELD.

REVEREND MATALE SAYS ALL POLITICAL PARTIES MUST ENSURE THAT THEY CONTINUE TO PREACH PEACE AND TELL THEIR CADRES TO CONDUCT NON-VIOLENT CAMPAIGNS TO CONTRIBUTE THE EXISTING PEACE.

END.