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HH in the grill... It's disgusting for Hichilema to confine women to the kitchen...

HH in the grill... It's disgusting for Hichilema to confine women to the kitchen...
By Kombe Chimpinde and Abigail Chaponda
Mon 17 Sep. 2012, 10:20 CAT

IT is disgusting for Hakainde Hichilema to confine women in the kitchen, says Women for Change executive director Emily Sikazwe. And women's rights activist Sara Longwe has asked Hichilema to "shut up" if he can't offer constructive criticism and described him as a misogynist (a man who hates women).

Reacting to Hichilema's attacks on FDD leader Edith Nawakwi whom he described as a hired gun for the PF who seemed to have run out of meals to cook in the kitchen, Sikazwe said any leader worth their salt cannot talk about sexist roles in this day and age.

She said it was regrettable that some leaders did not respect the promotion of women's rights and abilities.

"As Women for Change, we say there is no way anybody in Zambia today can talk about confining women to the kitchen," Sikazwe said.

Hichilema on Wednesday asked Nawakwi to confine herself to the kitchen and stop attacking him.

His comments came following Nawakwi's statement that no politician can work with Hichilema.

"This girl Nawakwi, who is saying Hakainde has done this...what has Hakainde done? Nawakwi the hired gun for PF. That is all she is," Hichilema said.

He wondered why Nawakwi was advising the MMD that he could not be trusted to work with in the coming Mufumbwe by-election, when he was magnanimous towards the MMD when it came to sharing of seats.

"That little girl did not say anything. It's too much of this Nawakwi please if you have run out of what to cook in the kitchen, go and look for something at the market," said Hichilema.

But Nawakwi on Thursday said Hichilema was a male chauvinist 'pig' who had no regard for hardworking housewives and marketeers.

And Sikazwe said, "Zambia is a signatory to so many conventions that talk about the promotion and empowerment of gender equality and any leader worth their salt cannot talk about sexist roles that existed long before Zambia became party to the convention on all forms of discrimination against women. The African women's solemn declaration also talks about fifty-fifty representation in leadership roles," Sikazwe said.

She added that Zambia equally had a gender policy, and was drafting a constitution that highlighted women's rights.

"It is very clear, and the need to change the language from sexist language to gender-sensitive language," said Sikazwe.

And Longwe said Hichilema did not deserve a vote from any woman because his hate for women was deep.

"Hichilema hates women; his insults are so deep that they hurt women and he feels good when he does that. Hichilema is a kind of person that does not want to lose an argument to women and when he loses an argument to a woman, he insults them to get back at them. Hichilema is not worth any women's vote. No woman should vote for him in the elections. Such people vent their anger on women and he is not worth being a leader," she said.

Longwe said it was good that Hichilema's hatred for women had come out in the open so that Zambians could see what kind of a leader he was.

"People have seen what kind of a leader he is. I wonder how he treats women in his house, they are not free. He intimidates them and he hates them. This message is not for Hichilema alone but for any man who hates women who can't stand women to be in politics, those men are not worth our votes," she said.

Longwe said it was not in order for a man like Hichilema to publicly insult Nawakwi.

"If you feel you can't offer constructive checks and balances then shut up. When you lose an argument to a woman and you can't say anything more, shut up. Politics is all about arguments but do it in a civilized manner," said Longwe.

Labels: EDITH NAWAKWI, EMILY SIKAZWE, HAKAINDE HICHILEMA, SARA LONGWE, UPND

posted by MrK @ 2:15 PM