GOVERNMENT says the low rates of women accessing land rights in the country is worrying as it threatens gender equality in the country.
Minister of Land and Natural Resources Sylvia Masebo, shared that even though a lot of the Zambian women are involved in Agricultural activities, only about 16.7 have secure land rights in Agriculture, while about 11 percent own the rights jointly with their partners.
Ms. Masebo said the lack of access to land rights for women, which is mostly attributed to cultural norms and patriarchal practices prevents them from fully participating in economic activities of the country.
In a speech read on her behalf by Land commissioner Lynn Habanji at the Legal Seminar organized by the Zambia Law Development Commission in Lusaka today, the Minister added that access to land rights will enable women to fight poverty, and achieve food security and economic empowerment as they will be able to use their land as collateral for economic empowerment.
She has further attributed insufficient policy and regulatory framework as a hindrance to women accessing land rights and has assured that the government is working towards improving as evidenced by Cabinet’s approval of the review of the Lands Act of 1995.
Earlier, Zambia Law Development Commission Deputy Chairperson Munukayumbwa Munyima highlighted that despite the many gains the country has made in achieving gender equality, cultural and social issues have continued to cause governance issues in land administration in the country.
Mr. Munyima said the cultural and social challenges faced by women in accessing land rights presents an opportunity for the country to foster collaboration and ensure the voices of the marginalized to be heard and amplified.
He added that the seminar has been organised to explore ways in which equity in the enjoyment of land rights can be advanced for the women in the country in line with the Beijing declaration of 1995, which was a commitment to advance gender equity.
Other stakeholders in land and law shared their inputs in the matter through presentations and highlighted the importance of the reforms for the women.
