By Burnett Munthali
Women from the Zambezi Evangelical Church (ZEC) have appealed for stronger support to enable them to expand initiatives aimed at improving the lives of vulnerable people and empowering women economically.
Speaking during the occasion, Mrs. Chimwemwe Chikhadzula, National Secretary for Women from Tsangano ZEC under the leadership of Pastor Kamvakale, welcomed Vice President Dr. Jane Mayemu Ansah and thanked her for honouring the invitation. She said the Vice President’s presence was a source of encouragement to both the church and the wider nation.
Chikhadzula said the women’s ministry continues to assist sick people, the elderly, orphans and other disadvantaged members of society. She added that the women are also promoting skills development, supporting small-scale businesses and encouraging women to develop confidence in their abilities and become economically self-reliant.
She, however, outlined several challenges affecting the programmes, including a lack of reliable transportation to reach vulnerable communities and inadequate materials and essential items for community outreach activities. She also highlighted the difficulty women face in accessing start-up capital for small businesses, including snack-making ventures.
She said increased support in these areas would enable the women to reach more beneficiaries, strengthen their income-generating activities and make a greater contribution to the welfare of families and communities. Chikhadzula said the Vice President’s attendance had provided renewed motivation for the women to continue serving society and pursuing programmes aimed at uplifting disadvantaged people.
