The Gender Division in North Western Province has empowered over 20 women led cooperatives with various equipment aimed at promoting skills and entrepreneurial development.
The cooperatives have received different equipment such as hummer mills, car wash machines, restaurant accessories and agricultural equipment among others.
North Western Province Principal Gender Officer, Limpo Sishekanu has told the Zambia News and Information Services (ZANIS) that the women empowerment initiative is intended to enable women to become entrepreneurs and improve their livelihoods.
Ms Sishekanu said the division remains committed to supporting women and transforming their living conditions through various empowerment interventions so as to make them self-sustainable and gain financial stability.
She said some women cooperatives have so far ventured into agricultural production and are growing different crops to sustain their families, thereby reducing poverty levels in households.
She added that the empowerment programmes have significantly helped in the fight against gender-based violence in the local communities as women are now entrepreneurs with a source of income.
Ms Sishekanu disclosed that the interventions implemented by the gender division correlates well with the 2024 Women’s Day theme which is “Invest in women and girls to accelerate progress”.
Ms. Sishekanu said various women-led cooperatives across the country have been empowered in an effort to accelerate progress in the lives of women and girls.
‘‘As gender division, our mandate is to promote women empowerment programmes across the country to ensure our women develop entrepreneurship skills that will transform their living conditions, sustain their families and help in curbing the rising cases of gender based violence in the communities. Investing in women and girls is vital for economic growth and development,” noted Ms Sishekanu.
Ms Sishekanu further stated that prior to the commemoration of International Women’s Day on 8th March, various activities have been lined up.
She said among the activities to be conducted include road shows, community engagement programmes with marketeers and cleaning of hospital facilities.
