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International Women's Day, Zambia does it in style






Pomp and colour marked the commemoration of International Women’s day in Zambia. It is a day celebrated in honour of the roles played by women in the society.

Thousands of women braced the morning breeze, surprisingly joined by men of the same number to match from the start point- Munali High School to the Mulungushi International Conference Centre.

All roads connecting to the surroundings were closed as the jubilant women and men, including children marching cue had stretched all the way for at least two kilometers. It was led by the Zambia Police Service band.

First lady Thandiwe Banda and wife of the Vice President George Kunda, Irene, were not left out as they led minister’s spouses to join the march.

It was a day of fashion show as different men and women from different sectors of the society dressed in different regalia that identified them with their organizations.

The style of dressing made different groups steal the show that left the Vice President standing for more than an hour to applaud the various vantages who formed long queues to salute the dais.

In Zambia, the International Women’s Day is very unique because it was made a public holiday after appeals from women organisations. All organizations representing women come out in large numbers. The government and other private sectors are also not left out as they joined the women in commemorating this very important day.

It is one of the days that every one is always gearing to attend. This is because all sectors have got a budget allocation where they provide all the attire to the participating individuals.

“All attire for the march is catered for in the budgets of different organizations. The companies will buy all participants clothes, shoes and even sometimes handbags for the ladies. This is because each company wants to look unique and steal the show. The government is also not left out as it has allocation for the same to all participants, says Brenda Zulu, an ICT consultant.

This she says also happens during Labour Day and Independence Day which fall on May 1st and October 24th respectively.

Attire business is booming during this time as orders are done by the various companies in bulk. “Beginning of February we are always overwhelmed by orders from different companies as they try to get the best and for everyone. We can’t complain anyway as it is the time we most capitalize on our businesses,” says Anne Chiwela, a trader in traditional garments.

The day was also used by the two major parties, the ruling party Movement for Multi-party Democracy ( MMD) and the main opposition Patriotic Front-United Democratic Party (PF-UPNDP) to surpass each other.

The two parties, which mainly comprised of women struggle to get the Vice President’s attention, raising symbols of their respective parties. The Vice president was left smiling while other dignitaries waved at the endless groups.

In his address, the Vice President said working hard to enhance equal rights and equal opportunities for both men and women in the new constitution.

He said the government is gratified to note that the National Constitution Conference (NCC) is currently considering various submissions related to equity and equality between women and men.

Kunda added that the government’s commitment was also visible in the enhanced financial allocation to the Gender in Development Division (GIDD).

And Non-Governmental Organizations coordinating council board chair person, Marian Munyinda appealed for practical and deliberate legal framework to be put in place to improve the status of women in the country.

She called for honouring of women who have distinguished themselves in different fields during ceremonies such as the investiture ceremony that the government conducts during Independence Day celebrations.

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