Press Statement
14 October 2015
Women for Change calls for the promotion of positive culture
Women for Change (WfC) would like to encourage traditional leaders to emulate Chief Mulolo of the Chewa people of Chadiza in Eastern province by promoting positive cultural practices that protect and promote the rights of girls and women.
WfC is concerned with the continued cultural practices that perpetuate gender inequality and consequently impact negatively on the future of girls and women in Zambia.
We would like to state that such cultural norms are harmful to the holistic development of communities and Zambia at large because they contribute to poverty which a large section of the country is subjected to. Such norms prevent girls and women from going to school, disapproves of their ownership to productive resources including land and ability to participate in decision making which have a bearing on their lives as well as health.
To this end, WfC would like to commend Chief Mulolo for encouraging his subjects to prioritise education for girls and boys in his Chiefdom as opposed to traditional dances such as Gule wamukulu and Chinamwali
The pronouncement from His Royal Highness is a step in the right direction in addressing early pregnancies and child marriages that in 2014 stood at over 16,000 while 58 percent of these were from Eastern province where many girls undergo Chinamwali when they come of age.
It is our hope that more traditional leaders and traditionalists will embrace the brave and positive steps being taken by His Royal Highness Chief Mulolo.
Lumba Siyanga
Executive Director
Women for Change
14 October 2015
14 October 2015
Women for Change calls for the promotion of positive culture
Women for Change (WfC) would like to encourage traditional leaders to emulate Chief Mulolo of the Chewa people of Chadiza in Eastern province by promoting positive cultural practices that protect and promote the rights of girls and women.
WfC is concerned with the continued cultural practices that perpetuate gender inequality and consequently impact negatively on the future of girls and women in Zambia.
We would like to state that such cultural norms are harmful to the holistic development of communities and Zambia at large because they contribute to poverty which a large section of the country is subjected to. Such norms prevent girls and women from going to school, disapproves of their ownership to productive resources including land and ability to participate in decision making which have a bearing on their lives as well as health.
To this end, WfC would like to commend Chief Mulolo for encouraging his subjects to prioritise education for girls and boys in his Chiefdom as opposed to traditional dances such as Gule wamukulu and Chinamwali
The pronouncement from His Royal Highness is a step in the right direction in addressing early pregnancies and child marriages that in 2014 stood at over 16,000 while 58 percent of these were from Eastern province where many girls undergo Chinamwali when they come of age.
It is our hope that more traditional leaders and traditionalists will embrace the brave and positive steps being taken by His Royal Highness Chief Mulolo.
Lumba Siyanga
Executive Director
Women for Change
14 October 2015