His Worship the Mayor Mr Remmy Kalepa, recently toured selected community women empowerment clubs registered with the Council to appreciate their activities, obtain an in-depth understanding of their challenges and share programs put in place by Government to help sustain their businesses.
At his request, the department of Housing and Social Services spearheaded the Mayor’s interaction with the women clubs that are undertaking various income generating activities and meet from the four Community Centres (Kimale, Kamalamba, Kyalalankuba and Kimasala).
Mr Kalepa, who was accompanied by the Chairperson of the Health, Environment and Social Services Committee (HESSC) Councillor Fickson Mwanaute and Director Housing and Social Services Mr Lubinda Mwala checked on seven (07) women empowerment clubs that are into village banking, peanut butter making, poultry, Tailoring, fish farming and grinding of mealie meal using the hammer mill.
The Mayor met members of Chimwenu, Bukishinka, Happiness and Mpinji village banking groups while others are: Kaseloki, Kwasha Mukwenu and Lusekelo Women clubs; whose Chairpersons/Secretaries gave an overview of their activities, the challenges faced and recommendations on how the Local Authority can further provide support in their areas of investment.
Mr Kalepa expressed delight for the opportunity to interact with the women groups indicating that eradication of poverty at the household level is also top on his agenda and he advocates for the development of all communities in Solwezi district.
Upon seeing their commitment to financial freedom, the Mayor assured the women of Council’s commitment to supporting their ventures through the Constituency Development Fund (CDF) as the women activities have the potential to grow the economy of Zambia and help sustain families.
Correspondingly, Solwezi Municipal Council Director Housing and Social Services Mr Mwala Lubinda commended the women groups visited for coming together for the common good of being financially independent as such groupings are not only an opportunity to share business ideas, but also to create social networks among the communities the women are derived from.
Mr Mwala assured the women of the Council’s uncompromised support to help them succeed in all their business endeavours by also connecting them to various organizations that can further help them grow their businesses.
He acknowledged that women are the most vulnerable in society and it is required they acquire skills to help them fend for their lives.
The Chairperson for the Health, Environment and Social Services Committee Councillor Fickson Mwanaute who also addressed the women said it was gratifying to see their dedication to seeing their businesses thrive so that they could supplement on the efforts of their spouses in providing for their families.
Councillor Mwanaute said he was happy as the Chairperson that looks at community development issues having had a chance to interact with the women groups.
He encouraged them to continue being proactive by engaging in other business ventures so that they can have various sources of revenue.
Once every quarter, Director Housing and Social Services presents a Report to the HESSC on community development activities undertaken by the Local Authority among which is the monitoring of various community clubs that are registered with the Local Authority; hence the request by His Worship the Mayor to obtain first-hand information on their operations.
Issued by
Esther Chirwa
Assistant Public Relations Manager
13/03/2024
