Recognising strong, young women on International Women's Day

*Please note names have been changed to protect identities.

TTF Zambia interviewed one of our previous clients, Anna* to hear about some of the issues she faces as a young woman, trying to forge a successful career in Zambia. 

Are you going to be doing anything to recognise international women’s day/ why do you think it is important to recognise international women’s day?
International Women’s Day is important because it’s a way of motivating women and empowering us. It’s also a way of everyone recognising the importance and presence of women in the country. If I am not going to be picked to be among the people who are going match on this day I will be working.

What are some of the main issues you think Zambian women face?
The main issues I think of are gender based violence and rape. In work related issues women are often put aside in decision making and some can’t be given high positions because certain roles are reserved for men. For example in politics a women is overlooked to be a president over that of a man.


How well do you feel TTF support women and equality for women?
TTF support women’s rights to good health so much. You could also do more by empowering women in business to help the government with issues of poverty and unemployment. This can be done by making contracts with them which will make them give back something with that same business than just waiting to receive something either food or money.

You work in an industry that is primarily male focused, how easy do you think it is for women to succeed in different careers today?
It’s difficult because it’s not every woman who succeeds its 10% for women and 90% for men. Once given an opportunity women can easily do just a good a job as men.

However women are also overloaded with a lot of house chores. An example is when a woman has to make sure the house is in order before leaving for work in the morning - she makes sure she puts water for a man to bath, prepares the children for school, cleans and tidies and by the time she is reaching work she is already tired. Men don’t understand this and makes women not supported in issues of career.

Men are not good implementing what has been agreed upon e. g family planning and work. You would agree to have children in the next five years but a man will just say “I want us to have a child” and as women you can’t change that - if you’re in college you have to wait for a while to continue; if you have a job he will just say “I want you to stop working” and you have to stop.

If you could make one law to support women’s right and equality what would it be?
Equal opportunities for all and the law’s supporting women’s rights to be respected – this should be included in all laws.