NGOCC demands that President Lungu reunites Zambians

NGOCC Board Chairperson Sara Longwe

The Non Governmental Coordinating Council (NGOCC) has demanded that President Edgar Lungu takes deliberate measures to ensure that the country is reunited.

NGOCC Board Chairperson Sarah Longwe says the scars left by the August 11 elections have the potential to wipe the good reputation Zambia has enjoyed over the years of being ‘a peaceful country’.

In a 2016 Review statement made available to QTV News today, Ms Longwe says NGOCC is also expecting government in 2017 to immediately operationalise the Gender Equity and Equality Act saying without doubt the establishment of the Gender Equity and Equality Commission will contribute in narrowing down the gender gaps in the country at all levels.

Ms Longwe says the Government, private sector and civil society must pragmatically collaborate and come up with a collective resolve to curb Gender Based Violence come 2017.

On Social Protection, Ms Longwe says the Government must scale up the social protection programmes by expanding the Social Cash Transfer programme to all parts of the country in the coming year 2017.

She says the government must prioritise the completion of the construction works and equip the 650 Health posts in order to reduce the distances that people have to walk to access health services.

She also notes the need for government to improve Zambia’s economy saying government must engage citizens on the beneficiaries of government debt and its economic value.

And on Distribution of Farming Inputs, the NGOCC Board Chairperson says the Government must review the whole distribution process of farming inputs including taking into account equity aspects.