Source: All Africa
First Lady Thandiwe Banda has called on women in the country to help shape the country's future by participating in elections on September 20, this year.

Ms Banda said women should not waste time hoping for a better Zambia if they did not seek to get involved in elections.

She said women should participate fully in building the country by exercising their fundamental right to vote. The first lady said this when she addressed scores of women at Kansanshi Hotel in Solwezi yesterday. She said not only men could build and shape the future of Zambia but the womenfolk should also participate in doing so.

She urged women not to engage in negative campaigns that could provoke some politicians. Ms Banda said women should instead preach peace and love ahead of the general elections. She said women were well placed to discuss issues of peace because they were the ones, together with children, who suffered the most whenever there was instability.

Speaking earlier, MMD National Executive Committee member Gladys Lundwe said women should participate in this year's elections so that their future could be secured.

Ms Lundwe said that could be done through choosing good leaders who preach peace as opposed to divisive statements. She added that women should not risk entrusting the country's affairs in the hands of violent politicians because such could plunge the country into chaos.

• Zambia