Q FM Africa's Modern Radio
Charmaine Musonda
UPND Chilanga parliamentary by-election candidate Charmaine Musonda failed to attend the sisters’ campaign promotion organized by the Non-Governmental Organizations’ Coordinating Council (NGOCC).
Ms Musonda could not show up at a media briefing meant for female candidates participating in the Chilanga by-election as she is said to be unwell.
Speaking at the media briefing, NGOCC Executive Director Engwase Mwale explained that the main objective of the campaign promotion was to provide a platform where the two female candidates namely PF’s Maria Langa and UPND’s Charmaine Musonda were going to recommit themselves to how they are going to promote women participation at constituency level.
Meanwhile NGOCC Chairperson Sarah Longwe is concerned with the systemic discrimination against women from participating in decision making especially in politics.
Ms. Longwe says it is unacceptable that only 18 women are in parliament while at local government levels only 9 percent are women.
She says the decision to field women candidates in the Chilanga by-election by the UPND and PF is commendable as it has potential to marginally increase the number of women in Parliament.
Meanwhile Patriotic Front parliamentary candidate, Maria Langa has pledged to conduct issue based campaigns.
Meanwhile Ministry of Gender, Director of Gender Simon Kapilima has expressed concern at the number of women in parliament saying it is still below the SADC threshold of 50/50.
Mr. Kapilima says it is for this reason that government is committed to ensuring that more women are promoted in the political arena.