Q FM Africa's Modern Radio
The Non Governmental Organizations’ Coordinating Council (NGOCC) has congratulated Dora Siliya and Patricia Mulasikwanda for winning the June Parliamentary by-elections held in Petauke Central and Mulobezi constituencies respectively.
The NGOCC has also congratulated the people of Petauke and Mulobezi for setting a good example by re-electing the two female parliamentarians who have served them previously.
NGOCC Chairperson Sara Longwe notes that the election of Ms. Siliya and Ms. Mulasikwanda clearly demonstrates that the people of Zambia recognize and appreciate the positive contribution of women to the development agenda of the country.
Ms. Longwe has told Qfm News in a statement that her organization is pleased to note that the numbers of women representatives in Parliament are steadily increasing, though still below the acceptable standards as set in both the Southern African Development Community (SADC) Gender protocols and African Union (AU) protocol on women’s rights.
She states that NGOCC however thinks that there is need for equitable representation for both men and women at all levels of the political spectrum.
NGOCC Chairperson says this is especially it is a fact that the ability of women to make decisions that affect their personal circumstances is an essential element to their empowerment and serves as an important contributor to the overall development of the country.
She says as the country prepares for the 2016 Presidential, Parliamentary and Local Government elections, NGOCC urges all political parties to adopt more women as candidates at all levels. NGOCC also urges more women to offer themselves as candidates, at local government, parliamentary and Presidential level.
And Ms. Longwe has expressed concerned over the increased incidences of political violence and the use of guns during by-elections.
She says her organization is particularly concerned with the recent incidences in Mulobezi where known senior party and Government officials shot at political opponents.
Ms. Longwe has urged the police to immediately arrest the culprits and bring them to book.
She has further urged all the leaders of the various political parties to denounce political violence. Diversity in unity is one of the hallmarks of any democratic society.