By MARGARET MANGANI and MILDRED KATONGO  –

THE vice-president during her tour of duty to Chifundo market in Lusaka’s Mandevu township recently alluded to the fact that her office had prioritised the empowerment of women,youths and the under under-priviledged.
In her statement, Mama Inonge Wina stated that women,youths and the under-privileged in society would ensure jobs were created for them.
She stated that the failure by previous governments to empower women had increased poverty levels among the women-folk,youths as well as the under privileged in society .But Ms Wina was quick to point out that the Patriotic Front (PF) Government will endeavour to resolve this problem.
She therefore, urged other stake-holders to emulate Republican President Edgar Lungu’s stance by promoting deserving women,provide grants and loans.
She said President Lungu had already set a pace by elevating her to the position of Vice-president.
Further in the veep’s statement she urged all stake-holders to appreciate hard working women from all sectors of the society.
Most women who are entrepreneurs or marketeers find it difficult to access financial support to grow their business due to certain factors.
Here is the response that we elicited from one of the traders in Kitwe concerning Ms Wina’s statement who is a good example of a small-scale entrepreneur.

. Phiri

The entrepreneur is Charity Phiri who welcomed the statement by Mama Wina.
Ms Phiri who is overwhelmed by Government’s call to stake-holders and other organisations to empower and appreciate women in all sectors by recognising their efforts through promotions and provision of various incentives.
It is inevitable that most women are hard working but face challenges such as finances along the way which can hinder their progression as well as contributing to national development.
Ms Phiri, who is also physically challenged but a small-scale entrepreneur said the statement by the first female Vice-President Ms Wina to empower women was timely and needed to be embraced by all well-meaning organisations as well as various stake-holders.
Ms Phiri said the business environment has been difficult without the financial support required to grow her business.
Though business was tough Ms Phiri was confident that with the statement by Ms Wina to empower women, the business environment would change and favour many entrepreneurs.
She said starting a small business in the country was a difficult thing adding that it needed some form of support from Government and other key players in the economy.
Ms Phiri said despite the starting point being difficult people should not be discouraged but work hard to achieve their goals.
Giving an example of herself Ms Phiri said despite facing the challenges in starting her business, she had to persevere in order to provide for her family.
She supplies mobile air-time across all the networks to retailers.
Being the only member in her family Ms Phiri learnt how to be independent at a tender age. For Ms Phiri doing business makes her feel more independent as opposed to being a begger scrounging for alms on the street which was not sustainable.
Having the responsibility to take care of her family gave her the impetus and chance to continue with her business and work hard despite the numerous challenges she faces that goes with the business that she is involved in.
Of Course Ms Phiri is not the only one engaged in that type of business being in the informal sector there are many others who are doing it all in the hope of making ends meet or putting bread on the table.
Recounting her ordeal she said she learnt how to be independent and responsible by owning a business though the starting point was rather difficult.
Ms Phiri who is aided by crutches said despite the business environment not being conducive she had survived by working hard in ensuring that she provides for her family.
“My business has improved over the years and I can proudly say that I am in a position to support my family,” she said.
With the efforts of small-scale entrepreneurs many developing countries like Zambia could not afford to neglect or ignore issues relating to small-scale businesses as these have the potential to significantly contribute to national development.
The Bible emphasises that do not despise the day of small beginnings.
For Zambia to develop it needs hard working women like Ms Phiri to help foster development.Despite facing challenges in her business Ms Phiri has not relented but kept soldiering on.
Ms Phiri said once women were empowered with different incentives, there would be development in the nation adding that women everywhere were forces of change especially in any developing country.
Women work so hard every day to ensure that food was put on the table regardless of the challenges that they go through.
Indeed as correctly espoused by Ms Phiri women need all the support that they need from Government and other stakeholders.
If we want to see real development in the country then the best investment should be women.
Women have continued to play a role in society by helping foster development in a positive way.Such efforts by women who are doing businesses in very difficult environments should be commended.
Ms Phiri said she was a proud business-woman and interacts with a lot of people while going about her business adding that her interactive personality had attracted many people who have turned out to be her regular customers.
Recently Ms Wina said Government had prioritised the empowerment of women, youths and the under-privileged in society to reduce poverty levels.
In her message Ms Wina said the failure by previous Government to empower women had increased poverty levels in the country.
She said Government would endeavor to resolve all problems that marketeers were facing by empowering them.
Ms Wina urged marketeers especially women to form clubs for them to access funding from the Ministry of Gender and Community development, Mother and Child Health.
She called on the international community and other stakeholders to work alongside Government in uplifting the welfare of women.
She said Government would continue to raise the bar for women empowerment through the implementation of various policies that seek gender equality.