Source: Times of Zambia
Minister of Gender and Child Development (MGCD), Inonge Wina has called on line ministries to support gender mainstreaming by including it in their budgets.

Ms Wina said despite the Cabinet call circular demanding that all line ministries needed to give gender due consideration when budgeting, there was still no progress.

She made the remarks in a speech read on her behalf by her Deputy, Esther Banda during a consultative meeting to validate the 2014 Draft Gender Equality Bill in Lusaka yesterday.

An analysis of the 2014 Budget conducted by the MGCD, revealed that most line ministries were still not giving gender much attention in their budgets.

She said the enactment of the gender equality Bill in Zambia was long overdue as the country was a signatory to a lot of international protocols on gender.

"Most of our neighbouring countries who tapped from Zambia's efforts to bring peace, stability and equal opportunities for all in our region, are making better progress in improving the plight of women and children," she said.

Ms Wina said the enactment of gender responsive laws were key elements in the elimination of all forms of discrimination against women as it would give them a voice in national issues and governance.

 Inonge Wina,
Minister of Gender and Child Development (MGCD)

"Our mandate as Members of Parliament cannot allow this situation to continue. The gender equality Bill therefore, presents us the opportunity to push the national gender agenda forward and take development to our people regardless of their background, sex and status in society," she said.

She said the country lagged behind in its efforts to ensure that men and women fully participated and benefitted from the development process.

The Gender Bill is aimed at harmonising current gender pieces of legislation and will soon be taken to Parliament for debate after consultation.

• Zambia