NGOCC Praises President Hichilema's Gender-Balanced Appointments

President Hakainde Hichilema has been commended by the Non-Governmental Gender Organisations’ Coordinating Council (NGOCC) on his recent Permanent Secretaries and Judges appointments. The NGOCC – an organisation that advocates for “inclusive governance and women’s participation in particular” – praised the President’s decision in yesterday’s press release.

Hichilema made eight Permanent Secretary and twenty Judge appointments, of which 50% of the former and 40% of the latter are women. This gender balance was described by the organisation as “sensitive and responsive”.

NGOCC Chairperson, Grace Manyonga-Sinkamba, has highlighted the importance of these appointments. She stressed that Zambia “will only attain sustainable development if women, men, girls and boys participate in the governance of the country at all levels”. Therefore, with more woman at the helm in the government’s decision making and execution, Zambia will be better equipped to deal with gender-based issues affecting the country.

The NGOCC has stressed there is still work to be done, however. Manyonga-Sinkamba has used this latest announcement as an opportunity to buckle down on her calls to Hichilema to make operational Article 23 of the Constitution in launching the Gender Equity and Equality Commission (GEEC). Many gender-equality campaigners see this step as essential in narrowing Zambia’s gender equality gap.

Photo: Hakainde Hichilema / Facebook