NGOCC to back female presidential candidates

The Non Governmental Organizations’ Coordinating Council (NGOCC) says it is time for the country to have a female president.

Speaking during a media briefing in Lusaka today, NGOCC Board Chairperson Beatrice Grillo says her organization has since resolved to support and back all female candidates in the January 20th presidential by-election.

Ms Grillo notes that since independence, men have ruled the country and people have seen what they are able and not able to do, hence it is now time to also give the women a chance to show what they are capable of doing.

She says it is a fact that women as mothers have a caring heart for the people and just as they prudently manage their homes, a woman will better manage the affairs of the country so that everyone can benefit from the national cake.

Ms. Grillo has since called on all female aspiring presidential candidates to declare their candidature publicly.

The NGOCC Chairperson has further encouraged the women in the country to stand up and support their fellow women stressing that women are the majority registered voters and if they turn out in numbers, they will make a difference and usher in a female president out of the forthcoming by-election.

And Forum for Democracy and Development (FDD) President Edith Nawakwi who is the only woman presidential candidate to declare interest in the presidency so far has appealed to the media to give an equal platform to men and women aspiring to be president.

Ms Nawakwi says the media should allow the Zambian people themselves to decide who they want to be their next president.