Women across the country yesterday celebrated the International Women;s Day with the Non-Governmental Organisation Coordinating Council (NGOCC) calling for practical and deliberate steps to improve the status of women in the country.

NGOCC chairperson, Marian Munyinda said yesterday, in her speech to mark this year's International Women's Day, that women were demanding for 50-50 parity in political parties, Cabinet and local councils.

Ms Munyinda said although the Government had addressed a number of issues affecting women, many areas still needed to be addressed, such as the unequal number of women in decision-making positions.

She said at present, there were only three women Cabinet ministers in Zambia out of 25, and 22 members of Parliament out of 158, and about seven per cent councillors countrywide.

Ms Munyinda asked the Government to urgently address issues affecting women to promote their equal participation in development and ensure that many of them were adopted in elective positions.

She said the Government should put in place a legal framework and promote affirmative action to level the playing filed, as that was the only way women would be able to bridge the inequalities in the economic sectors of the country.

Human Rights Commission chairperson Pixie Yangailo said achieving this year's theme had long been a quest of human rights and gender activists around the globe, who wanted to see that women were given the chance to realise their full human rights and benefit from development processes.

Ms Yangailo challenged women to remain resolute in their fight for equality, which was a basic principle of the United Nations (UN), adding that it was gratifying to see a lot of progress being made by the Government in the implementation of the gender policy.

UN resident coordinator, Macleod Nyirongo, who delivered Secretary General Ban Ki-moon's message, said the fight for affirmative action for equal opportunities and women's empowerment was worth fighting for.

"Zambia's women represent 70-80 per cent of the labour force in farming. This fact should encourage us to call for action-oriented results in women's issues, for it is a challenge worth overcoming at any cost without any delay. The price of inaction is dangerously expensive," he said.

Southern Province Minister Daniel Munkombwe called on women to refrain from gossip and instead uphold integrity and credibility.

Earlier, NGOCC provincial liaison officer, Florence Nakazwe urged the Government to honour women who had performed well.

Copperbelt Minister, Mwansa Mbulakulima said the Zambian Government was ahead of some Southern African Development Community member countries in implementing the 30 per cent or more female representation in Parliament.

Mr Mbulakulima said that was possible because of the Government's progressive policies.

International Women's Day Ndola organising committee chairperson, Marvis Kampeni said while several objectives had been achieved in offering women equal opportunities and equal rights, there was need to draw attention to the challenges that women faced to achieve the actual goals.

Mrs Kampeni said it was important to address issues of literacy, health and gender-based issues to enable women to earn equal chances in life.

The Kitwe International Women's Day committee appealed to the Government to ensure that it implemented gender policies and ensure that women began to enjoy more opportunities in national development.

Chairperson Grace Mikunga said women still lacked equal responsibilities or decision-making opportunities compared to the men at national level.

Kitwe District gender coordinator Jurita Mutale said gender mainstreaming was cardinal in attaining national development.

Kitwe District Commissioner, Macdonald Mtine urged women to initiate dialogue and reconciliation with men who he said had been perpetrating hatred, bitterness and violence in the country.

In Kabwe, Central Province Minister Ackimson Banda said efforts by the Government in uplifting the welfare of women had remained consistent as shown by the international agreements and protocols that had been domesticated into Zambian laws.

In Mumbwa, scores of women from different organisations as well as political parties marched on the streets before being addressed by Science, Technology and Vocational Training Minister Brian Chituwo.