AGRICULTURE and Cooperatives Minister Peter Daka's wife, Priscilla, has called on women in rural areas to report gender based violence (GBV) cases instead of being mistreated by some husbands for the sake of marriage.

Mrs Daka said in Petauke District that several women especially in remote areas were constantly abused in their homes and could not report such cases for fear of losing marriages.

She said it was not right for women who were abused by their husbands to pretend as though things were well when they did not enjoy their marriages due to exploitation.

"Don't sit down when you know you are being mistreated in your marriages. I urge you to report any form of violence because it is a denial of your rights," Mrs Daka said.

Mrs Daka said this in Msanzala Constituency when she addressed women from various clubs during first ever celebration of International Women's Day in that area organised by Zambia Women Development Association (ZAWEDA).

ZAWEDA is a grass root non-governmental organisation, established in 1996 and is an interdenominational in nature working to empower women.

The event held at Msanzala Basic School, was also witnessed by Chief Sandwe of the Nsenga people and several other residents from Petauke.

Mrs Daka donated assorted items worth over K15 million to women clubs, orphans, and school utensils to Chikuse Basic School. They included mealie-meal, sugar, salt, cooking oil, books and pens.

Among other women clubs in attendance were Tiyeseko, Nkana, Tilimeke, Sibongeni, Kamwala, Insaka, Chitowola and Mwasauka.

Mrs Daka said she was happy Msanzala residents came out in large numbers to celebrate Women's Day, which signified that they appreciated the role women played in society.

She hailed ZAWEDA for empowering over 5,000 women across the country through survival skills and appealed to other organisations to supplement the Government's efforts in contributing to women's welfare.

ZAWEDA chairperson Grace Phiri said her organisation would continue to work with various women clubs in provision of farming inputs and small loans for income generating activities.