Zambia: Gender Division under the Office of the President has extended their support to a women-led cooperative in Nalolo District. Bruce Hamusokwe has donated a rice polishing machine to the women-led cooperative as part of an empowerment initiative.
According to the reports, Western Province Gender Principal Officer Bruce Hamusokwe handed over the machine to the club. The handover ceremony was hosted in Muoyo area of the district shared that the .
The empowerment project which included the dinatiob was part of empowerment programme being implemented nationwide by the Gender Division. He emphasised that the machine aims to empower the women to meet their basic needs.
The donated machine will also help in bridging the gap that other social services may not cover for the women of the district. The Western Province Gender Principal Officer Bruce Hamusokwe spoke highly of the administration’s initiative.
“As you know, the President has provided free education, but we still have other small basic requirements such as buying groceries, books, and food. Hence, this empowerment will be able to cater for such things,” Hamusokwe stated.
Meanwhile, Cooperative Treasurer Namakando Sikabongo thanked the government for recognising their group.
Sikabongo highlighted the positive impact the machine would have on their well-being. He stated that the project will enable them to provide for their families’ needs. This will include food and school requirements for their children.
Meanwhile, Nalolo District Commissioner Namatama Mupo assured that the machine would be utilised effectively.
Mupo pledged to monitor the usage of the equipment to ensure that men do not dominate the group, emphasising that women should have full control of the machine.
She said it was good that the executive leadership of the group consists mostly of women, emphasising that the empowerment initiative is specifically aimed at empowering women in rural areas.
“I am happy that this group of ten is mostly led by women, so I don’t want to hear that men have taken over control,” Mupo stated.