•VICE-President Inonge Wina (c) touring Chifundo Market in Mandevu yesterday with Tourism Minister Jean Kapata (r) and Lusaka Mayor George Nyendwa (l). Picture by ROYD SIBAJENE.

By DELPHINE ZULU –

VICE-PRESIDENT Inonge Wina has urged stakeholders to appreciate hardworking women from all sectors.
Ms Wina said women’s efforts must be recognised through promotions and provision of various incentives.
She said President Edgar Lungu had already set the pace by elevating her to the position of Vice-President and emphasised that organisations and stakeholders must emulate the Head of State’s lead.
The Vice-President’s office had prioritised the empowerment of women, youths and the underprivileged in society and would ensure jobs were created.
“Failure by previous governments to empower women has increased poverty levels among women. My Government will endeavour to resolve this problem, we shall empower women, youths and the underpriviledged in society, stakeholders should emulate Mr Lungu’s stance, promote deserving women, provide grants and loans,” she said.
She was speaking yesterday at Lusaka’s Chifundo market in Mandevu Township where she went to see how Government could help marketeers who lost property when the market was gutted two years.
Ms Wina urged marketeers, especially women and youths to form clubs for them to access funding from the Ministry of Gender and Community Development Mother and Child Health.
“My Government has heard your cries. I specifically came to witness what transpired and I can see that you still want to continue operating from here, but I can assure you that this will be turned into a modern market once everything has been put in place,” he said.
Mandevu Member of Parliament Jean kapata said Ms Wina’s visit was an appreciation of the many votes Patriotic Front got in the January 20 Presidential Election.
Government had realised that the market needed to be turned into a modern market which would in turn create jobs.
Ms Kapata urged youths in the area to acquire skills once the skills training centre was completed in her constituency as it would help them to get jobs which government had promised them.
Lusaka Mayor George Nyendwa called for expeditious works to ensure Chifundo market was turned into a double-storey market as it was facing challenges after being gutted.
Market chairperson, Joseph Tembo hoped Ms Wina would utilise her position to empower women, the vulnerable and youths.
Chairperson Jessy Nalwamba amid sobs told Ms Wina that most women had their property, including houses, grabbed by money-lenders after losing property in the inferno.