Gender Division and cross border traders sign MoU
By ARTHUR MWANSA
GENDER in Development Division (GIDD) and the Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa Cross Border Traders Association (CCBTA) have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) aimed at empowering women entrepreneurs countrywide.
The MoU was signed on July 9, 2010 at government complex in Lusaka.GIDD permanent secretary Gabriel Kaunda and CCBTA chairperson Eliot Kabinda signed on behalf of their respective organisations.
The MoU will facilitate the empowerment of Zambians especially women, through
entrepreneurship training in various trades and skills such as mushroom growing, jam making
and sausage processing.
According to a statement issued to the Femail News by GIDD communications officer Joy Chasha
the MoU stipulates, among other things, that GIDD will provide space and other facilities to train
the women.
Ms Chasha said CCBTA will be responsible for contracting International Labour Organisation
(ILO) certified trainers to train women entrepreneurs in business and entrepreneurial skills.
“This MoU will ensure that women are trained in value adding activities which will uplift the
economic status of the entire citizenry,” she said.
Ms Chasha said GIDD will also work with other partner agencies such as the Drug Enforcement
Commission (DEC), Zambia Revenue Authority (ZRA), financial institutions, the Ministry of
Commerce, Trade and Industry, the Immigration department and the National AIDS Council
(NAC) to sensitise women on issues such as drug trafficking, tax regulations, human trafficking,
gender and HIV/AIDS.
CCBTA is a member based organisation operating in 19 COMESA member countries.
The Association has about 35,000 members across the COMESA and SADC region, of which
about 70 percent are women.
“We want to advance and uplift the status of women. Our aim is to enhance women’s effective participation in the socio-economic, cultural and political development of Zambia,” Ms Chasa said.
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