Minister of Justice has called for increased gender inclusivity in Zambia’s capital markets, emphasizing that empowering women in the financial sector is both an economic and governance imperative.
Princess Kasune noted that the participation of women in financial markets strengthens institutions and drives economic performance.
She was speaking at the Lusaka Securities Exchange (LuSE) $CFA Society South Africa -International Women’s Day commemorative brunch dubbed “Ringing the Bell for Gender Equality.”
“When we mentor a young woman to enter the financial sector, we do so not merely to give her a career path; we give capital markets a sharper mind, a new perspective and a committed stakeholder,” she said.
Princess Kasune stated that organizations that open leadership positions to women unlock resilience, creativity and stronger governance.
According to the Minister, global evidence shows that companies that support women’s advancement perform better financially, with improved governance, and higher returns for investors.
Ms. Kasune cited global research highlighting the benefits of gender-diverse leadership in corporate institutions.
“Global studies by McKinsey and Credit Suisse have shown that companies with women in leadership positions record stronger financial performance, better governance and higher returns for investments,” Princess Kasune noted.
She emphasized that achieving gender equality in the financial sector requires collaboration among various stakeholders including government, regulators, private sector leaders and civil society.
“No single institution can achieve gender equality alone. It requires all of us giving what we have so that all of us may gain,” she said.
She also stressed the importance of extending financial inclusion initiatives to rural areas where women face greater challenges in accessing financial services.
“We must not remain a privileged few in the cities; we must find ways to get ourselves into the rural areas because the gap there is even wider,” she stressed.
Ms. Kasune called on stakeholders to address systemic barriers that continue to limit women’s participation in economic activities and reaffirmed the government’s commitment to strengthening legal frameworks that promote equal opportunities.
