Women urged to be pro-active

By Fadilesi Sakala

FIRST Lady Maureen Mwanawasa has challenged Zambian women to unite and play an active role in the development of agriculture if they are to better their standard of living.

Mrs. Mwanawasa said it was time for women in all circles to unite and take up agriculture as the mainstay of their livelihood.

She said one way of making this dream come true is for them to form cooperative societies that will act as a source of income capital.

Mrs. Mwanawasa said this over the weekend during a fundraising braii and fete organised by the Women’s Redemption Cooperatives Society held at Civic Center.

Mrs. Mwanawasa commended the women for their efforts in trying to eradicate poverty, hunger and disease, and urged other women to join such organizations.

“Women should join educative cooperatives so that they can receive knowledge on different issues of development,” Mrs. Mwanawasa said.

She donated K500 000 to each participating group saying the money would help the groups solve some of the problems that the clubs were facing.

Speaking at the same function, Chairperson for Women’s Farmers Development Steriah Tembo, enlightened the first lady on some of the problems that the cooperative was facing.

Mrs. Tembo said that funds, infrastructure, transport and lack of skills were the major constraints within the cooperative.

She appealed to the first lady for the registration of the cooperative under the Maureen Mwanawasa Community Initiative so that the cooperative would work hand in hand with the first lady in eradicating poverty in Zambia.