WOMEN FOLK DEMAND PRO-GENDER SENSITIVE 2012 NATIONAL BUDGET

Women civic organisations have called on government to ensure that the 2012 budget is gender sensitive.
And the civil society organisations have called on government to increase budgetary allocations to the Ministries of Education and Health.
ZANIS reports that Non-Governmental Organisations Coordinating Council (NGOCC) Board Chairperson Beatrice Grillo says next year’s budget should have the people’s needs at heart and also include persons with disabilities.
In a telephone interview in Lusaka today, Ms. Grillo said government should seriously look into the issue of operationlising the Gender Based Violence (GBV) Act in order to help victims of GBV.
She stated that money should be allocated towards the GBV Act and that law enforcement agencies that deal in gender matters should be made active.
Ms. Grillo has also called on government to ensure that women empowerment programmes are not politicised.
She said all people should be treated as equals and with fairness regardless of their political affiliations because they are the ones who decide which people should lead the country.
Meanwhile, Women for Change Executive Director Emily Sikazwe has said the budget should also aim at reducing poverty levels in the country.
Ms. Sikazwe said most people affected by poverty are women and children and the young people and that much needed to be done in that sector.
She further called on government to start looking at the new constitution-making process as was promised during the campaigns.
She added that people have been crying for a people driven constitution which should be seriously looked into.