The instrumental roles played by women during the COVID-19 pandemic

Justinah Phiri

Imagine the world without women and the world without men. How do you imagine it would be like? It is especially more important that women take centre stage in leadership and achieving an equal future in a COVID-19 world.

As the world grapples with the coronavirus pandemic, women have continued to show leadership in most critical areas. Take for example Mama Inonge Wina, the Vice President of the Republic of Zambia and a household name. She has been so instrumental in the fight against COVID-19 and she has been seen on different fora providing sensitization. One such example is when she led Members of Parliament including the staff, in testing for COVID-19 whilst accompanied by the Speaker of the National Assembly Justice Dr Patrick Matibini on 22nd July 2020 at Parliament buildings.

VICE-President Inonge Wina

Such women of substance play a critical role in providing leadership in such times of the pandemic and many other. They also serve as role models to the women folk both old and young. The case in point is just one of the many examples of women who have taken the mantle of leadership in all spheres.

As women, there is need to combine efforts and to present a united front in this COVID-19 era. Women are stakeholders in the developmental agenda for any country. Equity and equality in taking important roles of leadership should be harnessed in every endeavour so as to create balance when it to comes to women involvement in leadership roles. Interestingly, there are even more women showing leadership even in the media circles who are brave and strong in their manner of reporting, with the most recent one being a Muvi TV reporter, fairly young and vibrant who took to exposing erring officers at the University Teaching Hospital (UTH) for exploiting clients who went for a COVID-19 test. When it got to the attention of the authorities, the alleged two officers who were extorting money from the patients were brought to book awaiting court appearance.

It only took a woman to uncover such misdeeds that are retrogressive and evil in nature. Such women of valour are to be applauded for ensuring sanity and justice prevails over selfish acts and inconsideration. This brave young lady whose name is withheld deserves some form of recognition as a token of appreciation for her bringing such evils to the fore. That matter will be left for the public to adjudicate.

The COVID-19 era needs women who are determined with huge focus on the future and its prospects of a better tomorrow in a spirit of togetherness. This common agenda will spur and overturn economies in the world. If only a number of women came to realize their potential the world would be a different place. There are a lot of women if we were to go by the list who have and are making significant contributions towards the fight of the pandemic and indeed in acquiring the better future.

It is my considered view as well as my wish to see women come from behind like American Vice President Kamala Harris who has shown women the world over that it is no longer a man’s show to climb to greater heights. Women are equally important allies no matter the narrative. May every woman commit to changing the business as usual approach but instead aspire for greater heights. I also call on womenfolk to be more goal-oriented in scoring successes.