Women are encouraged to explore the digital space and aim for the same success their male counterparts have been getting over the years.

This was the call by various speakers at the commemoration of International Women's Day in the Zambezi Region.

Speaking at the event, Nampol's Head of Administration in the Zambezi Region, Deputy Commissioner Magdeline Garises said women are being held back from the same success men have, due to various constraints.

"We cannot ignore the fact that in many communities across the world, people don't want women to have access to the internet because it is deemed immoral, currently women make up the 3rd of the working force of the world."

She said, more still needs to be done to support women in their careers and overall development.

"It is not only external factors such as costs, skills, relevance, poverty, and safety that contribute to that, but social norms within our society, stereotyping, family responsibilities that are put among the girls, working time constraints, because for women to work in the evening is more dangerous than a male person to work, lack of confidence in the working environment because she is always discriminated against, restrictive impact on careers of female employees in the field, women are more likely to face a gender big gap, than men."

Kabbe North Constituency Councillor Bernard Sisamu who represented the Zambezi Governor Alufea Sampofu noted the growing inequalities in certain digital skills and access to technologies between men and women.

"This theme also highlights the importance of protecting the lives of women and girls in digital spaces and addressing online and information and communication technology, facilitating gender-based violence, especially those affecting our young girls."

Sisamu urges there is an urgent need for inclusive and transformative technology and digital education for a sustainable future.