The Sad reality of Zambian women

...................Under-representation, GBV and Maternal Deaths


ANN ZULU writes

FROM the time that Zambia got its independence in 1964 to date, women have continued to face serious challenges such as under-representation in decision making, Gender Based Violence (GBV) and maternal deaths.


Under-representation in Decision Making


There has been a misconception that politics is about issues which concern men more than women. It is believed that men are associated with ‘hard’ politics and women with soft politics of the home.

But should women only be in the kitchen? Some men are also better caterers and better home keepers than women. A good example is the fast food industry, which has become a male-dominated area than that of females. Aren’t the operations of this industry centred on the kitchen?

Currently, there are 30 women out of 166 members of Parliament in Zambia. Figures in the 2012 national census show there are more women than men, in a total population of 17.86 million.

Views from people and various stakeholders engaged in promoting women inclusion in decision-making show that women can play a better role in ending corruption and addressing some major problems in society when voted into power not only as ministers or Members of Parliament but at the highest level as president.

So far, Zambian women like Deputy Speaker of the National Assembly Catharine Namugala, Chief Justice Irene Mambilima and Vice President Inonge Wina are occupying high positions in decision-making in the country and other women could take a cue from them.

Zambia`s Vice President Inonge Wina

GBV

GBV is another challenge that women are facing in Zambia and the country has in the past few years recorded massive cases of the vice.

According to the Zambia Police Victim Support  Unit 2019 Second Quarter GBV Statistics Report, there were 6, 139 GBV  cases reported countrywide.

GBV is a term used to describe any harmful act that is perpetrated against a persons will and that is based on socially ascribed differences between males and females.

While men and boys can be victims: survivors of some types of GBV (particularly sexual violence), GBV has a greater impact on women and girls.

Maternal deaths

The 2018 Zambia Demographic and Health Survey revealed that 674 maternal deaths were recorded in that year. The primary causes of these deaths were obstetric hemorrhage and indirect causes.

Obstetric hemorrhage was the most common cause of death among women ages 30-49 and women who had  experienced more than one pregnancy, while indirect causes attributed to most deaths among pregnant women ages 10-29 and first-time pregnant women.

Local platforms of engaging women

The Women`s Movement Organisations such as the Zambia National Women´s Lobby (ZNWL),  the Non-Governmental Coordinating Council (NGOCC), Young Christian Women Association (YWCA) and the Women In Law Southern Africa (WLSA) have created various platforms to help address these challenges that women are facing and also engage with them through platforms such as workshops, the media, road-shows and door to door sensitizations among others, although much still needs to be done.

The African Women In Dialogue (AFWID) journey

1000 women from 55 African countries attended this year's AWID forum, a forum which seeks to unite  African women from all walks of life under one roof to deliberate on issues of continental importance in in Johannesburg, South Africa.

The Forum which was held under the  theme “Women`s Power and Voices as Agents of Change”, saw women from various African countries share strategies and ideas how best they could address challenges faced by women on the continent.

It is certain that one of the biggest ways to address evil vices affecting women is through strengthened dialogue and AFWID has created that.

 If only African women stand up together and speak with one voice, challenges such as under-representation in decision making, GBV and maternal death will be a thing of the past.