NGOCC welcomes Lungu’s decision to run with a female

The Non Governmental Organizations’ Coordinating Council (NGOCC) has commended President Edgar Lungu on his pronouncement over the weekend that he will adopt a woman as his running mate during the 2016 August 11th general elections.

Engwase Mwale

NGOCC Executive Director Engwase Mwale says the pronouncement by the Head of State is in consonant with the spirit as espoused by the preamble of the Republican Constitution.

Ms Mwale says the preamble of the constitution emphasizes the equal worth of both men and women and the need for gender equity and equality.

Ms Mwale says her organization is are glad that President Lungu, as leader of the ruling party, is leading the way by committing to adopting a woman as a running mate.

She hopes that other political parties will be motivated to ensure that there is gender balance between their Presidential candidates and the running mates.

She has also urged all political parties to ensure that they also adopt more women as Parliamentary and local government candidates ahead of the 2016 general elections.

Ms Mwale says her organization is aware that currently political parties are adopting candidates and therefore they must as much as possible ensure that more women are adopted, successfully nominated and subsequently elected as Councillors and Members of Parliament.