A good constitution can eradicate poverty - Sikazwe
By Kombe Chimpinde
Thu 21 Feb. 2013, 15:10 CAT
WOMEN for Change executive director Emily Sikazwe says a good constitution can eradicate extreme poverty and improve the country's governance system. And JCTR says Zambians must ensure that economic and social rights are enshrined in the country's constitution by going to a referendum.
Meanwhile, Lubansenshi independent member of parliament Patrick Mucheleka says economic problems in Zambia are a result of poor governance exhibited by governments over the years.
Speaking at a discussion forum themed 'The Zambia we want' organised by the Press Freedom Committee (PFC) of The Post in Lusaka yesterday, Sikazwe said it was only through the constitution that economic rights of all Zambians would be guaranteed.
She said coming up with a good constitution would ensure the interests of the minority in society were protected.
"In there (constitution), we will make sure the poor are protected in a country where we are saying economic growth is high… There is no one to blame, not any outsiders but ourselves," said Sikazwe. "I have a nephew in UTH who broke his leg. I have been going to UTH now for the last three weeks every day.
They failed to operate on him for two weeks because there was no oxygen and it is true there was no oxygen and this is endemic, it's not today's problem; it's been there all along. People sleeping on the floor… The issue is what is our collective vision?"
And Jesuit Centre for Theological Reflection (JCTR) director Fr Leonard Chiti said participation of all Zambians in the constitution-making process was crucial in order to ensure economic, social and cultural rights and that this would happen through a referendum.
He said once this was achieved, resources made for poverty related programmes would be strictly administered and protected as government would be held liable for failure to provide the said rights.
"You can actually sue the government for failure to provide these rights, in the same way we can sue the government if they stopped having this forum that we are having now," Fr Chiti said.
He said the draft constitution currently has provisions for economic, social and cultural rights.
"These rights are rights such as the rights to education, the right to health, the right to food security, shelter, a safe environment but also, within the Bill of Rights in the draft, there are provisions for more rights for women, and the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) are more less associating with these economic and social rights," Fr Chiti said.
"In terms of MDG number one, which is alleviating extreme poverty, if you provide education, health, shelter, job, a clean environment and security, clearly this would go a long way in having the proportion of people living in extreme poverty reduced."
Fr Chiti said if the said rights were enshrined in the constitution, Zambia would be on course in meeting the MDGs by the 2015 target date.
And UN country coordinator Kani Wignaraja said there was still much that remained to be done for the country to meet the MDGs by 2015.
"Enrolment of pupils in primary schools, we have done very well. We have seen enrolment in secondary schools but close to a half of our children Zambia don't complete primary and even a larger number of that, don't even complete secondary," she said.
"The other fact that we have to consider is three Zambians; two of whom are girls, every hour are infected with HIV. Now although we are doing well on HIV prevalence and upping the ability of those who have not had access to treatment and care and counselling, on the other side of the spectrum is quiet alarming, that every hour three Zambians are newly-infected with HIV. These issues are fundamental that we have to ask ourselves as a nation where we are headed."
Wignaraja said there was little benefit in pointing fingers at each other on what has not been done.
Meanwhile, Mucheleka said the government should begin to exert its efforts on serious national priorities that can accelerate development.
"It is a question of how we set our priorities. What steps are we taking to ensure that we strengthen and enhance domestic resource mobilisation?" asked Mucheleka.
Labels: EMILY SIKAZWE, JCTR, POVERTY
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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
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WfC calls for indaba on street children
By Masuzyo Chakwe
Mon 27 Dec. 2010, 04:01 CAT
EMILY Sikazwe has called for a national indaba to discuss and find a lasting solution to the problem of street children. In an interview yesterday, Sikazwe, the executive director of Women for Change (WfC), said there was currently no agreed programme to deal with the problem of street children.
Subsequently, she said, the programmes that were being implemented could not succeed to the fullest as could be seen from the number of children that were still living on the streets.
Sikazwe said there was need for a meeting that would help to find a permanent solution to the problem.
She called for the re-introduction of the Zambia National Service (ZNS) military training for school leavers to help solve some of the problems that youths currently faced.
Sikazwe said for the coming year, she expected all parties to take issues of children, especially unemployment among the youths, seriously.
She said she also expected peace and harmony and political players to focus on issues confronting the country.
“We expect people to also respect each other’s views,” said Sikazwe.
Sport, youth and child development permanent secretary Teddy Mulonga last week said the prevailing economic situation, coupled with the high incidence of HIV and AIDS were pushing the majority of young people into a state of vulnerability.
Mulonga said the problem of children and youths living on the streets did not affect the government alone but all people.
He said a workable solution should be found to address the problem.
“The problem of streetism is a time bomb, which if allowed to grow can explode and have a telling effect on the security and economy of our country,” said Mulonga.
Labels: EMILY SIKAZWE, TEDDY MULONGA, WFC
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The Zambia We Want Campaign’ to focus on mutual accountability
By Moses Kuwema
Wed 21 Apr. 2010, 23:30 CAT
WOMEN For Change (WfC) executive director Emily Sikazwe has disclosed that ‘The Zambia We Want Campaign’ will embark on activities aimed at collecting people’s views on the Zambia they want, which would then culminate in the development of the charter.
Sikazwe yesterday said the charter would focus on mutual accountability by both the leaders and the citizens.
“The charter will also focus on principles and values to inform important national development processes. This charter will be a tool for engaging political party leaders, other duty bearers and the general citizenry on their commitment to development,” she said.
Sikazwe said the charter would demand development discourse and practice dominated by action towards the realis ation of the collective aspirations of the Zambian people.
Sikazwe said the objectives of the campaign included promoting a meaningful citizen-leaders dialogue based on mutual accountability, where the general citizenry elected leaders and government officials will be held accountable for their actions.
Others are empowering citizens to demand from elected representatives, the operationalisation of the ‘Zambia We Want Charter’ and developing a mechanism to facilitate the continuous monitoring of the progress towards the achievement of electoral promises.
She said the campaign would comprise the joint efforts of several movements, Non-Governmental Organisations (NGOs), Community-Based Organisations (CBOs) and Faith Based Organisations (FBOs) who are determined to bring about a better Zambia.
Sikazwe said the main goal of the campaign was to develop a culture and mechanism for a people-led and focused sustainable social, economic and political development. Sikazwe also welcomed the launch of various campaigns saying they were needed because Zambia had a lot of problems.
“The more campaigns we have, the better because Zambia has a lot of problems, its good that our nation can see an issue and express themselves through campaigns…however, campaigns will come and go but what we need is a shared vision that is the Zambia We Want,” said Sikazwe.
Labels: EMILY SIKAZWE, THE ZAMBIA WE WANT CAMPAIGN, WFC
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NCC is a defective process, says Emily
By Masuzyo Chakwe
Mon 19 Apr. 2010, 03:00 CAT
WOMEN for Change (WfC) executive director Emily Sikazwe has said her organisation has been vindicated on its refusal to participate in the NCC because it is a defective process which cannot produce a good constitution for every Zambian.
Commenting on
the National Constitutional Conference (NCC)’s rejection of food, water and shelter as basic human rights that should be enshrined in the constitution, Sikazwe said
it was disappointing that the NCC delegates could laugh at and reject Article 74 (1) of the Mung’omba draft constitution that stated that every person had a right to be free from hunger and to have access to food in adequate quantities.
She said food and water were basic rights that could not be taken away from any individual.
“What the NCC delegates are forgetting is that socio-economic rights are important to the development of any country and as such, it is important that they are included in the constitution, which is the foundation for the development of the country,” she said.
Sikazwe said it was sad that the NCC delegates perceive civil and political rights to be more important than socio-economic rights.
She said the delegates had failed to realise that it was impossible to enjoy civil and political rights without enjoying socio-economic rights.
She said WfC was disappointed at the calibre of some of the ministers that Zambia had.
“Ministers who think they are more equal than other Zambians, and the ones who deserve access to water, adequate food, decent shelter and access to good education and health facilities. These are ministers like justice deputy minister Todd Chilembo, who can describe the inclusion of basic rights in the constitution as utopian,” she said.
Sikazwe said the inclusion of basic rights in the constitution could never be utopian and it had never affected any country that had them negatively.
She urged Chilembo and his fellow NCC delegates to learn from South Africa, which had these rights in the constitution.
Sikazwe said having such a clause in the constitution did not mean that the states always had to give everyone food but that the state must prioritise and enable people to get food and clean water.
She said this may be done by making sure that the majority poor, especially in rural areas, had access to subsidised fertiliser, employment, land and other programmes that could help them have adequate food and water, unlike the present situation.
“The Zambia we want is a Zambia where every Zambian is able to enjoy the rights to adequate food, clean water, decent shelter and access to good health and education facilities,” said Sikazwe.
Labels: CONSTITUTION, EMILY SIKAZWE, NCC, WFC
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Appealing shouldn’t be controversial, says Emily
Written by Patson Chilemba
Friday, August 28, 2009 3:10:02 PM
WOMEN for Change (WfC) executive director Emily Sikazwe has said there should be no controversy over appealing against Frederick Chiluba's acquittal by the magistrates court. And Lusaka lawyer Wynter Kabimba has said President Rupiah Banda is not acting in the best interest of the Zambian people because he was in the forefront supporting Chiluba.
But Chiluba's spokesperson Emmanuel Mwamba said Chiluba's innocence had been proved through the acquittal on all the charges that were levelled against him.
Appearing on MUVI TV's Hot Issue last Tuesday, Sikazwe said former president Chiluba's acquittal would remain controversial until the due process of the law was thoroughly completed up to the Supreme Court.
She said Chiluba had repeatedly appealed against cases that were ruled against him.
"And the laws of Zambia provide that appeals will be made. And if it takes us to go to the Supreme Court, so be it. [It is] controversial because Dr Chiluba's camp is already celebrating, or already making demands, already using the Bible. Zambia was declared a Christian Nation and God says, you shall know them by their fruits," Sikazwe said. "As to whether it is God's wish to ordain a president who buys himself 120 pairs of shoes plus, plus and calls himself a Christian president, it will remain controversial. And we have to resolve this issue. And we are saying, calm down Dr Chiluba, because a lot of people have been hurt by this."
Sikazwe said Chiluba was also called a thief because of perception.
She said Chiluba was one person whose lifestyle was well known before he became president.
"We knew his lifestyle. Even if he said that people were giving him gifts, why did he take Dr Kaunda's car that Saddam Hussein gave him? Where did he take it? When he said in that private account, the Zamtrop account, there is private money, why was he putting his money in our account, in the people's account? If the money was private where did it come from? What was he giving away in turn? Was he selling our country? What was he mortgaging for private donors to give him so much money that he is claiming was in our people's account? So perception is important," Sikazwe said. "And yes we knew him before, and we knew him when he became president. We knew his dress code. It didn't include 120 pairs of shoes. When we talk about perception, our leaders must understand that we know each other, how we live, where we are coming from. That if in five years time, your lifestyle changes as if you are a billionaire, we Zambians will monitor. And from the time president Chiluba's actions were changing, we were monitoring. And yes, justice will be done. The people of Zambia one of these days will triumph."
Sikazwe said Zambians would follow the law to the letter over Chiluba.
She demanded for the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) to appeal because justice has not been seen to be done.
"Everyone in this country understands, apart from those blaspheming that Dr Chiluba should be as at now be presumed innocent. No, we take case to the highest law in the land, which is the Supreme Court," Sikazwe said. "If for whatever misfortune, the Supreme Court says he is innocent, we will leave it at that. We also know the London judgment. No matter how Dr Chiluba trivializes it, we want it registered here. That's a lot of money."
Sikazwe said as a Christian, she took issue with those who were blaspheming that Chiluba should be left alone because he had been washed in the blood of Jesus.
She asked Chiluba to ask for forgiveness from God so that he could receive humbleness unlike the manner he was behaving now.
She also warned that the Bible was very clear about people that used God's name in vain.
Sikazwe further denied Mwamba's accusation that her lifestyle had changed for the better since she became WfC executive director.
Sikazwe said in fact she earned more in her previous parastatal job than she currently earned at WfC.
And commenting on President Banda's firing of Task Force on Corruption chairman Maxwell Nkole following his appeal against the acquittal of Chiluba and the lengthy interview he gave to MUVI TV on Monday night, Kabimba who was on the panel said President Banda was not acting in the best interest of the Zambian people but that attempts to bury justice would not yield anything.
"There is a collision between the people that Rupiah Banda purports to lead through his government and the people themselves. And I want to say this that this line that the President has taken is itself unconstitutional. It is unconstitutional, and I want to say this to the people of Zambia," Kabimba said. "There is only one point where I agree with Dr Chiluba, when he went before this Matero Church of his that 'how can my wife be found guilty while I am acquitted?' So either Regina Chiluba's judgment was wrong, or Chiluba judgment is wrong. So ultimately something is wrong somewhere and he realises that."
Kabimba wondered when Secretary to the Cabinet Dr Joshua Kanganja awakened from the slumber to realise that Nkole's contract had expired.
"To be honest with you, I am very ashamed that the announcement comes from a man that I have a great deal of respect for, Dr Joshua Kanganja, who is being used as a doormat, you know, to wreck his career in this country, like many other people's careers have been done," Kabimba said when he featured on the Hot Issue programme on MUVI TV last Tuesday night. "Since when, one would ask a question, did Dr Kanganja come out of slumber and realise that Max's contract has expired? When? Two months ago? Yesterday, when Max appeared on this programme? This is the shame that professionals are being put to."
Kabimba said President Banda had also remained quiet from the time he thanked Zambians for accepting Chiluba's acquittal.
"I personally expected President Banda to be the first one today to say 'yes, I have instructed', or the DPP should be free and act and exercise his professional judgment to appeal in this case," Kabimba said. "Since Mr Banda pronounced the fact that the people of Zambia have been very happy about Mr Chiluba's acquittal, he has gone silent. Should we really be debating the issue of an appeal? We shouldn't."
Kabimba said Chiluba's acquittal had become controversial because he was not an ordinary man and that justice must be seen to be done.
"...In fact, I may add the fourth one to that. The pronouncements that have come from the Head of State, Mr Banda, as Head of State and even prior to the acquittal, if you remember he did make a pronouncement to the effect that whether Chiluba is acquitted or convicted, I shall stand by him because he was a damn good president. And it has come to pass that Dr Chiluba is acquitted, in very controversial circumstances," Kabimba said. "You read in the media that this judgment by magistrate Chinyama should have been delivered on a Friday, it wasn't. And for no reasons given to the people of Zambia, it was moved to a Monday. Now for me as a legal practitioner, yes it does happen, but a judge or a magistrate would say, 'I'm not ready with the judgment today, but I am you know...' again people should have been sensitive that this is not an ordinary case. It's moved from Friday to Monday, and Dr Chiluba is acquitted on all counts; so all those are reasons that have brought about this controversy around this acquittal, or perceived acquittal, whatever you may call it."
Kabimba said for as long as Zambians were not convinced that justice had not been seen to be done, they would pursue Chiluba to the end.
But Mwamba said he feared the statements from Kabimba and Sikazwe that Chiluba was being called a thief because of perception.
He said the courts of law were the final arbiter for those who were being accused.
"Emily here has very strong allegations against Dr Chiluba. She says Dr Chiluba plundered national resources. Who is competent, who is an independent arbiter? You know because Dr Chiluba by our Constitution has a right to innocence. He's deemed innocent before the law. It doesn't matter how reasonable Emily Sikazwe's allegations are," Mwamba said. "It doesn't matter how convincing they are. They are just but allegations, and I wish to emphasise that. They are just but allegations. Dr Chiluba having been president of this country submitted to the law. He was charged with first 42 million dollars. He went to those courts for about a year. That case was dropped by the Task Force on Corruption."
Mwamba said Chiluba objected instructions from former Task Force on Corruption chairperson Max Nkole, who said he had directed his lawyers, MNB, to appeal against Chiluba's acquittal.
"So the objection is not to the appeal. I think the law allows for appeal. But if offences are committed in this case, there is clear breach of the Constitution, the person who is not allowed by law to appeal, believes that there should be an appeal," Mwamba said. "And a lawyer, a competent lawyer Mr Mutembo Nchito proceeds to accede to a wrong directive, actually lodges in an appeal. You know this matter is so serious. In fact we are considering that we should take this matter to LAZ because this misconduct is totally unacceptable."
Mwamba also said Zambians had perceptions against Dr Kenneth Kaunda, president Levy Mwanawasa and even President Banda but those allegations had not been tested against the three presidents in the courts of law.
"So perceptions, yes, if there is a dominant media for example The Post. And the whole country knows Emily's place at The Post. And a perception can be created at The Post," said Mwamba. "Acquittal has provided an opportunity for closure. This matter has divided our country. There has been political tension."
Labels: CHILUBA, EMILY SIKAZWE, WFC
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Appointing politicians as permanent secretaries is scandalous – Sakeni
Written by Ernest Chanda and Moses Kuwema
Tuesday, January 27, 2009 5:33:37 AM
PRESIDENT Rupiah Banda's recent
appointment of some politicians as permanent secretaries is scandalous, former Luapula Province minister Kennedy Sakeni has charged.
And Evangelical Fellowship of Zambia (EFZ) executive director Bishop Paul Mususu said there is need to have qualified people in the civil service for it to tick.
Reacting to the recent appointment of permanent secretaries, who include MMD deputy national treasurer Jazzman Chikwakwa as Luapula Province permanent secretary, Sakeni said the move would derail morale in the civil service.
"I have worked in the civil service before for quite some good period of time and I know that even if you start as a clerk, your hope is to be Permanent Secretary someday. Now the appointments we have just started witnessing in this government are scandalous," Sakeni said.
He said the appointments reminded Zambians of the UNIP days when some cadres were given civil service jobs.
"We are not saying the people being appointed have a bad character, no. All we are saying is that they are coming from a wrong sector of society. In this case, we are not helping civil servants in any way. Levy tried to move away from this culture but Mr Banda has taken us back to those old days," Sakeni said.
"I can tell that already there is a lot of frustration in the civil service because people do not know what to aspire for. There is a provision in the civil service where you reach a ceiling of director of something, thereafter you look up to the position of permanent secretary. So instead of blocking civil servants who are more conversant with civil service matters than we are, let us give them hope by leaving such positions to them."
Sakeni accused the MMD government of trying to stamp its authority on every department.
"As a politician, I can imagine the appointments as a strategy to hold on to positions until 2011. In any case, this will not revamp the party in the province because there are other MMD members in the province who have expressed displeasure with the appointments," Sakeni said.
And Bishop Mususu said the civil service should have its own arrangement where people graduate to be appointed into higher offices than getting people elsewhere.
He said appointing politicians into the civil service would be the same as 'cadrerism'.
"For the civil service to tick, we need qualified people who can deliver, because politicians come from a biased group, so you don't expect them to be professional in carrying out their work," he said.
Bishop Mususu said the civil service should be allowed to nurture its own people who should then graduate and take up higher positions.
"A civil servant should be able to embrace everybody, but if you have politicians working in the civil service, you will not be getting the services you need, and also this will be hindering the junior civil servants from graduating in the ranks to higher positions," he said.
Bishop Mususu called on the appointing authority not to treat the appointments of civil servants as a way of rewarding themselves but to look at the qualifications.
Bishop Mususu also said checks and balances would not be there if more politicians were appointed into the civil service.
And Women for Change (WfC) executive director Emily Sikazwe said if the government was serious about poverty reduction, it should desist from appointing politicians into the civil service.
"If we want professionalism, then we should not be appointing politicians into the civil service because doing so will result in the nation not being served professionally," she said.
Sikazwe called on all political parties to desist from interfering with the civil service's performance.
Labels: CIVIL SERVANTS, EFZ, EMILY SIKAZWE, KENNEDY SAKENI
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Sikazwe urges society to help the underprivileged
Written by Sydney Mungala
WOMEN for Change (WfC) executive director Emily Sikazwe has advised young people from privileged societies to develop a conscience to help lesser privileged communities.
Officiating at a speech night at Chudleigh House School on Friday, Sikazwe urged the children to view an injury to one child as an injury to all if they were to become leaders.
“As privileged children, you must be able to develop a conscious to help other children in underprivileged communities like Chibolya, Kalingalinga, and Chawama who, despite having the potential, l do not have a chance to realise their potential,” she said.
Sikazwe urged young people to embrace humility as a mark of distinction.
“You have to learn humility, one thing that distinguishes a great leader from a rotten one is the ability to humble oneself so this is something you have to learn if you are to become a leader,” she said.
Sikazwe advised the pupils to take advantage of the opportunity their parents had given them and told them to get inspiration.
“You have accomplished parents, take advantage of that. How can a child of an accountant fail to have an ambition? How can child of an engineer, lawyer not be a champion? Obama says we can,” she said.
Sikazwe hailed the school as an indigenously owned school that had set itself favourably against foreign- owned schools.
Labels: EMILY SIKAZWE, POVERTY
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Zambians mourn Levy
By Staff Reporters
Wednesday August 20, 2008 [04:00]
Zambians from all walks of life yesterday mourned the death of President Levy Mwanawasa. Vice-President Rupiah Banda announced the demise of President Mwanawasa, who died at 10:30 hours in Paris. And Patriotic Front president Michael Sata described President Mwanawasa's death as the most devastating national crisis Zambia has ever faced. Meanwhile, Women for Change executive director Emily Sikazwe said the demise of President Mwanawasa was a great loss to Zambia.
In a national address on Zambia National Broadcasting Corporation television yesterday, Vice-President Banda called for calm as people mourn President Mwanawasa.
"I also wish to inform the nation that national mourning and state funeral begins today 19th of August, 2008 and will be for seven days," Vice-President Banda said.
He appealed to all the citizens to remain calm and mourn President Mwanawasa in dignity.
President Mwanawasa suffered a stroke on June 29, 2008 on the eve of the African Union (AU) heads of state summit in Sharm-el-Sheik, Egypt. He was immediately admitted to Sharm-el-Sheik hospital until July 1, when he was evacuated to Percy Military Hospital in Paris, France where he had been admitted until his death.
And Sata said the nation needed to remain united during this trying time.
"This is more devastating to my colleague Rupiah Banda and the entire government. I hope our colleagues in government will be brave and less provocative for us to mourn our President in a very honest manner," said Sata. "I'm very devastated that a number of things which we could have discussed, he has gone with them."
Sata conveyed heartfelt condolences to Vice-President Banda and the first family. He said this when Italian Ambassador to Zambia Giovanni Ceruti paid a courtesy call on him at the PF secretariat.
Meanwhile, Emily Sikazwe said her organisation stood with the first family during this period of mourning. She called on Zambians to remain calm as the country mourned President Mwanawasa.
"As women, we understand how the first family feels about this untimely death. A dark cloud has fallen upon Zambia but we need to stand together as One Zambia One Nation, we mourn the President," said Sikazwe.
Former president Frederick Chiluba urged the MMD and government to show maturity during this time. Chiluba said President Mwanawasa's death was a big and sad loss to the nation. He said for those who loved President Mwanawasa, this was not the time to make it difficult for the MMD to function.
Chiluba sent his condolences to Vice-President Banda. He also requested Vice-President Banda to send his condolences to first lady Maureen, the government, the MMD and the Zambian people over the death of President Mwanawasa.
He urged the nation to remain peaceful as it has always been known to be and stay calm during this difficult period.
"It should be known that Dr Chiluba and President Mwanawasa have had a long standing relationship," Chiluba said. "President Mwanawasa's political life is traced to Dr Chiluba in 1990 when they campaigned together in MMD and he later became his Vice-President. It must be remembered that in 2001, President Mwanawasa was in private practice and citizen. Dr Chiluba called him to national duty as a presidential candidate and consequently became President as his successor. The economic successes can't be divorced from the successes of MMD and policies of Dr Chiluba's tenure of office.
President Mwanawasa's successes and economic policies are founded in the policies of Dr Chiluba. It, therefore, remains a sad loss to the country and the region."
Chiluba said Zambia was a constitutional democracy and that the country would be guided by the Constitution.
"Let's rally behind the Vice-President and MMD know your order and no one can teach you what to do," said Chiluba.
The United States government stated that it mourned the loss of President Mwanawasa with great regret and respect.
"On behalf of the United States government and the American people, we convey our deepest condolences to first lady Maureen Mwanawasa and the Mwanawasa family. At this time of sorrow, our thoughts are with the people of the Republic of Zambia and the entire SADC region, whom the President served with conviction and commitment. May they find consolation and solace during this difficult time," the US government stated. "President Mwanawasa will be long remembered and admired for his contribution to economic development, good governance, regional peace and security, and respect for the rule of law. His legacy provides an example to leaders, both locally and abroad, who follow in his steps."
MMD national secretary Katele Kalumba said although President Mwanawasa was no more, the quest for national economic emancipation, justice for all, freedom from basic want and respect for the commonweal would continue.
Kalumba called on Zambians to stand together beyond partisan lines and all other divisional, regional or ethnic barriers as they remembered President Mwanawasa.
"A good man is gone. A nation is deprived. Today is Zambia's darkest hour...For MMD cadres, this is an hour that calls for our deepest courage to remain united as we express our grief and sympathise for our first lady. I pray that we keep the first lady and the family in prayer. The MMD secretariat will be the focal point for communication for this matter," said Kalumba.
Roman Catholic Bishops called upon all Zambians to continue praying for the repose of the soul of President Mwanawaasa and also pray for his family.
"We are particularly touched because one of the last public activities President Mwanawasa performed in Zambia was to address the Catholic Bishops and delegates who were assembled for the 16th AMECEA plenary assembly at the Cathedral of the Child Jesus in Lusaka on 28th June, 2008," stated Bishop George Lungu, president of Zambia Episcopal Conference (ZEC). "We extend heartfelt condolences to Mrs. Maureen Mwanawasa, the family, the government and the people of Zambia on the untimely passing away of our President. May the Lord grant consolation to his family during this difficult period."
Former Republican vice-president pastor Nevers Mumba said the news about President Mwanawasa's death was extremely shocking.
"It's extremely sad, it's one thing to hear that someone is ill but when you hear the drums of death, it comes with a complete new dimension," pastor Mumba said.
He urged Christians to continue to pray that the tragedy that had befallen the nation would not divide people. He urged people to realise that it was in unity that they could survive. Pastor Mumba said the Church should continue to pray for peace to prevail in the country.
Former private secretary to the President John Ziba said it was a sad day for Zambia. He said President Mwanawasa was coming well in his second term and would go down in history as a statesman.
"It would be a monumental task for anyone who will succeed him because the man has achieved so much in his few years. The fight against corruption he pioneered and now we are respected in the region. He has brought sanity in running government," Ziba said. "Zambia is now being mentioned as a benchmark on good governance and economic management. We should maintain that level of confidence given to the country."
Meanwhile, some Kitwe residents talked to expressed shock at President Mwanawasa's death.
All Africa Conference of Churches special assistant to the general secretary special duties, Reverend Japhet Ndhlovu said the death of President Mwanawasa had taken Zambians unawares and called all citizens across the country to maintain peace by turning to God as the only source of comfort.
Rev Ndhlovu, who is also an assistant to the ninth Assembly Continental coordinator, further urged politicians in Zambia not to incite people by making careless statements during this period of mourning.
"Political leaders should lead the country during this mourning period and get back to the agenda on the next step after every procedure has been completed," said Rev Ndhlovu.
South Africa's opposition Democratic Alliance also joined the SADC bloc in mourning the passing of President Mwanawasa.
"He will be remembered for his strong stance against corruption, sound economic policies, and principled position in resolving the political impasse in Zimbabwe," the alliance's press statement read in part. "We urge regional leaders to honour his memory by upholding his vision for a politically stable region. Our thoughts are with the people of Zambia during this difficult time."
The Zimbabwe National Students Union (ZINASU) extended its heartfelt condolences to the people of Zambia.
"We salute and cherish the legacy you left and contribution you made in the struggle for the betterment of the lives of the people of Africa and in pursuit of democracy and good governance in the region and the continent at large," ZINASU stated.
The British High Commission in Zambia, on behalf of the Department for International Development and the British Council stated that they were deeply saddened to learn of President Mwanawasa's death.
Labels: EMILY SIKAZWE, MWANAWASA, RUPIAH BANDA, WFC
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Mabenga urges youths to assume leadership
By Jack Zimba
Tuesday August 05, 2008 [04:00]
MMD national chairman Michael Mabenga has said youths in Zambia suffer from the syndrome of perpetually waiting in line for leadership. And Women for Change (WfC) executive director Emily Sikazwe called on political party leadership to mentor a pool of up-coming leaders to carry on the ideals of their parties.
Speaking at a workshop on leadership last Saturday at Pre-cem Motel in Lusaka, Mabenga said development in many countries was designed by young people and that time for the youths to lead was now. Mabenga also urged the MMD members that attended the conference not to perceive their critics as people bent on destroying them, but to heed their voice.
“We have invited some of our fierce critics to come and share their experiences of leadership. When people point out your weaknesses, we should not see evil and label them as untouchables. Their voices are part of the silent conscience that reminds us that no one is perfect,” Mabenga said.
And Sikazwe, who was one of the guest speakers, challenged leaders in the country to identify and nurture future leaders.
“The challenge for all of us leaders is to try and incorporate leadership values that draw the best in the members of the organisations that we lead and in addition, mentor a pool of up-coming leaders who will carry on the ideals of the movement,” she said.
Sikazwe said parties should avoid segregation but instead embrace everyone in their party structures.
“It should not be a situation of ‘us’ and ‘them’ …us leaders and them, the members. This is why in revolutionary movements world over, members use the word ‘comrade’ which symbolises equality and a shared vision, goal and motivation,” she said.
Sikazwe said women could achieve the same level of success like their male counterparts but that all they needed was space and support.
And Council of Churches in Zambia (CCZ) general secretary Reverend Suzanne Matale said men had been mischievous for a long time by making the gospel work for them while using the same gospel to sideline women in the Church.
“Thankfully, we now know the gospel is about liberating people rather than enslaving them. It is not about chaos and disorder but about love and unity among people,” she said.
Rev Matale said women had a lot to offer, but were in most cases prevented by religion, tradition and culture.
She said the enslavement of women was also exacerbated by male preachers who she said would rather believe in tradition and negative culture than the liberating word of God
“The sad part of this state of affairs is that women have been preached to negatively for so long that they have believed this kind of teaching,” Rev Matale said.
The workshop was held under the theme: “Women, youth and the disabled persons in party leadership.”
Labels: EMILY SIKAZWE, LEADERSHIP, MENTORING, MICHAEL MABENGA, YOUTHS
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Women go for Shakafuswa
By Lambwe Kachali
Monday March 24, 2008 [16:15]
THE women movement has demanded that finance deputy minister Jonas Shakafuswa resign for regarding women as sexual objects. In an interview yesterday, Women for Change (WfC) executive director Emily Sikazwe said Shakafuswa should resign from government because Zambian women would not tolerate his behaviour. Sikazwe said there was great need for Shakafuswa to be taken to ‘male Alangizi’ and be taught good morals on how to respect women.
"As women of Zambia, we cannot allow this kind of unbecoming behaviour from a government minister. We are calling for his resignation and we are very clear about that," she said.
Sikazwe said Shakafuswa's outbursts did not reflect drunkenness but showed how some MMD leaders disrespect women in the country. Sikazwe said although Zambia had a gender policy, it lacked implementation as government leaders had continued to abuse it. HIV/AIDS consultant, Professor Nkandu Luo, said Shakafuswa had degraded the status of women in Zambia as well as that of President Mwanawasa, the appointing authority. Prof Luo said the President should show leadership by firing Shakafuswa.
"...In any normal country Shakafuswa should resign. We are demanding that President Mwanawasa fires him immediately before we demonstrate on the streets. Shakafuswa has insulted us, his wife including his own mother. He has also embarrassed President Mwanawasa and his government. Therefore, there should be no sacred cow," Prof Luo said. "And if Shakafuswa can use his power and money to spread AIDS, that is very sad."
Prof Luo said Shakafuswa's statement that if a woman wanted to be 'slaughtered' then let her be done was a serious insult and disregard to the womenfolk in the country.
She said it was extremely ridiculous that some men had continued to be arrogant towards women and perceived them as objects for sexual satisfaction.
Prof Luo said women were spending sleepless nights to fight the spread of HIV/AIDS and yet some ministers like Shakafuswa were using their money to perpetuate the vice and abuse poor women who are the majority in the country.
Prof Luo, who is also Tasintha programme board chairperson, said the organisation had been looking for men who are commercial workers so that they could be integrated into the transformation programme.
"So for me there are two things we want; one, we would like to recruit him (Shakafuswa) into the Tasintha programme so that he goes through the process of transformation and two, that he should be sucked out because he is compromising our fight against HIV/AIDS," she said.
Prof Luo said Shakafuswa's behaviour sent wrong signals to the rest of Africa and the international community.
She said the deputy minister's apology did not hold water because the civil society had warned before that alcohol was the worst driver of the spread of HIV/AIDS.
"It is totally unacceptable and again he wants to use the alcohol story. I have been speaking for the last two years to say, can this country do something about alcoholism because it is a driver of HIV/AIDS but nothing has happened. So, he is just using it because he now knows that the story is sour and wants to hide in the name of alcohol. Can the President give an example by sucking some of these people who are not fit to be ministers because no person worthy being a leader can make the kind of statements," Prof Luo said. "Shakafuswa should also apologise to the women of Zambia."
Non-Governmental Organisations Coordinating Council (NGOCC) chairperson, Marian Munyinda said Shakafuswa's vulgar language would not be forgiven until he apologized to the women and the country as a whole.
Munyinda said Shakafuswa was supposed to behave like a role model and set an example for young people who were interested in joining politics.
She charged that Shakafuswa should not regard women as animals who could be used for his sexual satisfaction any time he wanted.
Munyinda urged the Speaker of the National Assembly Amusaa Mwanamwambwa to take serious action on the matter.
Young Women Christian Association (YWCA) national president Margret Kapihya said Shakafuswa did not deserve the position of deputy minister.
"No wonder the kind of debates that come out of Parliament. If people like Shakafuswa believe that women are there to be 'slaughtered' as long as he has money, he is ready to buy sex, it is very sad indeed. And we also know that he is a married man and I wonder what respect he has for his own wife if he can talk openly like that. Shakafuswa is supposed to protect the vulnerable people and not abuse them," said Kapihya.
Women activist Sara Longwe said the declaration of Zambia as a Christian nation was rhetoric.
Longwe said Shakafuswa had also insulted women of his constituency Katuba who voted for him.
She said it was important that Zambians realized the type of people they elected into public office.
Longwe said the people of Katuba should take Shakafuswa to task and advocate for his removal as area member of parliament.
"It is very disgraceful. It is taxpayers’ money Shakafuswa is boasting about and using it to abuse women. It is shameful to the MMD government and President Mwanawasa too. Shakafuswa is very ridiculous. He should not take women for granted just because of his little money that he has acquired after being appointed minister. I hope President Levy Mwanawasa won't sympathise with him on account of being his nephew. Let President Mwanawasa fire him and we are watching everything," said Longwe.
Last Thursday night, Shakafuswa threatened to beat up Chikankata UPND member of parliament Munji Habeenzu over his remark that National Assembly Motel has been turned into a brothel by members of parliament.
This follows Habeenzu's statement, two weeks ago during the debate on the policy statement of the 2008 budget estimates for the Ministry of Health, that even parliamentarians were engaging in extra marital affairs at the motel where they were being accommodated.
Habeenzu described the situation as dangerous in as far as the fight against HIV/AIDS was concerned.
But before Parliament adjourned, Shakafuswa threatened Habeenzu at the bar that he would be beaten up if he continued talking about what goes on at the motel.
Shakafuswa, who is also Katuba MMD member of parliament, said his wife consistently phoned him to find out whether he was in the chamber debating or 'slaughtering women' at the motel following Habeenzu's remarks.
He said if Habeenzu was so poor that he could not buy sex, it was important that he spared those with money to pay for it.
"I can beat you up. We will be beating you if you continue. You are very stupid, idiot, imbecile. How can you say such things in Parliament? If you are poor and cannot manage to buy sex, let people with money do that. You people in UPND are very dull. I know it's because you are very poor. If you don't know how to scr** women, just keep quiet before you are beaten up," Shakafuswa said. "If a woman wants to be slaughtered, then let her be done. The problem with many of you is that you don't know how to scr** women, no wonder they don't like you. That's why me, I don't like drinking from cheap places like this one."
However, Shakafuswa on Saturday apologised for threatening Habeenzu over his remark that National Assembly Motel has been turned into a brothel.
But Habeenzu has since maintained that he will not forgive Shakafuswa over his unwarranted behaviour and would write to Speaker Mwanamwambwa over the matter.
Labels: EMILY SIKAZWE, SHAKAFUSWA, WFC
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Bandits attack Emily Sikazwe
By Mwila Chansa
Wednesday February 27, 2008 [03:00]
ARMED thieves attacked Women for Change executive director Emily Sikazwe in the early hours of yesterday at her Roma residence in Lusaka and got away with US$4,000, a handbag, about K500,000, and a Nokia N93 cell phone. Narrating the incident at her home yesterday, Sikazwe said the thieves, who went to her home around 01:45 hours, threatened to shoot her if she did not give them the money they were demanding.
The thieves also attacked and beat up the husband of Sikazwe’s niece, who lives in the servant’s quarters within her yard.
“The people who attacked me must know my lifestyle very well. My son was supposed to leave for Cuba today (yesterday) so they knew I had money, and they knew I had no adult male in the house,” Sikazwe said.
She said the thieves tied up the guard and chiseled part of the wall perimeter to gain access to the yard. Sikazwe said two of the bandits stood by her bedroom window demanding more money while the others were busy banging and breaking things at the servants’ quarters.
“They had flashlights and knew where I was sleeping and threatened to shoot me if I didn’t give them money, as they were banging doors. I heard them quarrelling, asking how much money I had given them. I took advantage of that to run to the bathroom where there is a panic button. I pressed it but Safetech didn’t come,” she said. “I ran to another room where a sick cousin of mine was sleeping and I asked her to call somebody who could call the police. The thieves spent a lot of time breaking things and banging doors. They took the TV, plates and almost everything at the quarter and they even beat up my niece’s husband.”
Sikazwe said police came 45 minutes after being called while Safetech came later. She said she had no reason to suspect the guard who had worked for her for about ten years.
Sikazwe thanked God that she was still alive, saying material things could be replaced.
Her 16-year-old son, has however, aborted his trip to Cuba because the incident traumatized him.
And the guard, Godfrey Sakala, narrated that he had dozed off around 01:00 hours on the table in the garage when the thieves ‘invaded’ the yard and tied him up. He said the thieves threatened to shoot him if he shouted and that he could not see the panic button as it was dark because they had removed the bulb.
Labels: EMILY SIKAZWE, WFC
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AU is chauvinistic, charges Emily
By Mwila Chansa
Monday February 04, 2008 [03:00]
AFRICA has missed an opportunity to have a very brilliant woman to chair the AU Commission, Women for Change executive director Emily Sikazwe has observed. And Non-governmental Organization Coordinating Council (NGOCC) executive director Engwase Mwale has said her organisation is disappointed that Dr Inonge Mbikusita-Lewanika has lost her bid to become AU Commission chairperson.
Commenting on Inonge’s loss, Sikazwe said her organisation was convinced she (Dr Mbikusita-Lewanika) would have been the perfect person to chair the AU Commission.
“This just goes to show how chauvinistic the AU can be, throughout, they have had men heading the commission but finally when they are given an opportunity to elect a woman, they still go for a man,” said Sikazwe.
She said the AU Commission had lost an opportunity to have a woman who would have fostered peace, unity and solidarity.
And NGOCC executive director Engwase Mwale urged Dr Mbikusita-Lewanika to continue fighting for the emancipation of the African woman.
“As NGOCC, we can only encourage her to forge ahead. She should follow the example of Abraham Lincoln who always aimed higher when he failed,” Mwale said.
“We did rally behind her and it’s unfortunate that she lost and I think it is also a setback for Zambians not to have one of our own to represent us at the AU.”
And when contacted for a comment, chief government spokesperson Mike Mulongoti said he could not comment on the matter because he had not yet received an official report from Ethiopia.
Dr Mbikusita-Lewanika who is also Zambia’s ambassador to the United States lost her bid to become AU Commission chairperson after losing to Gabonese Foreign Affairs Minister Jean Ping who won the election with 31 votes against her 12 votes.
Labels: AU, EMILY SIKAZWE, ENGWASE MWALE, NGOCC, WFC
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Katumbi will dent Levy's crusade, says Hansungule
By Brighton Phiri
Tuesday December 11, 2007 [03:00]
THE Katumbi case will dent President Mwanawasa’s crusade against corruption, Professor Michelo Hansungule has said. And Women for Change (WfC) executive director Emily Sikazwe said government had no mandate to cut deals with suspected plunderers without the approval of the people.
Commenting on government’s announcement that it had discontinued and closed all the criminal and civil actions against Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) Katanga Province governor Moses Katumbi, Prof Hansungule said the Katumbi case was a very bad precedent for President Mwanawasa’s crusade against corruption.
“Thus far, the administration has done very well on this score. There is no other government in Africa that has dragged its former head of state to court on allegations of corruption as Zambia has. But the Katumbi case is bound to dent this record,” Prof Hansungule said.
He said the sudden grant of liberties by government to Katumbi was shocking because the case had been making headlines for several months, if not years.
“Isn’t this what cost Vernon Mwaanga his job?” Prof Hansungule asked.
He said it was amazing for a government that had a duty to govern based on the principle of good governance inscribed in the Constitution, to inform its citizens that criminal actions that had been intended against Katumbi had been discontinued.
“It is important that government is transparent in the way it handles matters already in the public domain. It cannot suddenly be treated in this way.
Government has a duty to give out all information and not just what it feels it must give out to the public,” he said.
“Precisely for the sake of peace and security that government itself has invoked as the reason to settle the matter amicably is the reason for taking the Zambian people in their full confidence.
Being mean in sharing critical information on an important matter like this may be read by some to mean government is hiding something which in fact may not be the case.”
Prof Hansungule said it was easy to understand settlement of civil matters outside court but not of criminal matters.
“Isn’t this going to compromise justice? How does this happen given that others in similar circumstances have rightly been left to be sorted out by the long-arm of the law?” he asked.
“And this concept, ‘in the interest of peace and security’, how has it been found suitable to apply in this and not similar cases? There are many unanswered questions government has an obligation to clarify and shed light on.”
Sikazwe asked government to explain how Katumbi had been cleared of all the charges quietly when they went public to accuse him of being one of the plunderers of the country’s resources during the Chiluba regime.
“Government must tell us what is it that that has changed for Katumbi, whom they told us that he is one of the plunderers of our resources,” Sikazwe said. “It is disappointing that government is going ahead with impunity cutting deals with persons suspected of plundering our resources.
Katumbi’s case was part of the catalogue of corruption cases under the Chiluba regime which was presented before parliament. Did government seek the approval of the people’s representatives to discontinue Katumbi’s case? We demand for transparency on this matter.”
Government last week stated that Katumbi was at liberty to return to Zambia and engage in lawful business he might consider appropriate after the two parties agreed to discontinue and close all criminal and civil actions against the Katanga governor.
According to a joint statement on resolution of matters between the Zambian government and Katumbi, through his legal representatives William Nyirenda and Company issued in Lusaka, all outstanding matters between the parties had been resolved to the satisfaction of both.
Government stated that the settlement of the matters between it and Katumbi was intended to secure the maintenance of peace and security between Zambia and the DRC.
Labels: CORRUPTION, EMILY SIKAZWE, KATUMBI, WFC
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Fr Henriot calls for democratisation of UN
By Sheikh Chifuwe in Antigonish, Canada
Friday October 26, 2007 [04:00]
JESUIT Centre for Theological Reflection (JCTR) director Fr Pete Henriot has called for the democratisation of the United Nations and the international financial institutions if development and peace were to be meaningful. Addressing St Francis Xavier University students and the community of Antigonish in Canada on Tuesday evening under the theme, “global perspectives on the work of development and peace”, Fr Henriot said one of the solutions to underdevelopment was to make the international institutions such as the United Nations, International Monetary Fund, World Bank and World Trade Organisation more democratic.
"These institutions were set up without the interest of the developing countries. They need to reform the power structures of these international financial institutions and the UN so that they are more representative," he said.
Fr Henriot also challenged the governments of the south to become more transparent and accountable to the people as the only other alternative of ensuring there was development and peace within their countries.
He said developing countries needed more regional co-operations and strengthened regional bodies such as the African Union and the Southern Africa Development Community (SADC).
He told the audience that globalisation had impacted negatively on Zambia and other developing countries as it had left most of the already poor people without employment due to its profit-oriented approach.
"The process is within the discredited neo-liberal market paradigm where they want to pursue economic reform without consideration of the social impact," Fr Henriot said.
"The political structures of the IFIs (International Financial Institutions) do not effectively include participation of government or civil society."
He said the imposed policies such as the Structural Adjustment Programme/Poverty Reduction Strategy Paper had weakened cultural values once cherished among the Zambians because of entrenched poverty.
He said there was no fullness in trying to transform the world economically in the absence of justice. Fr Henriot added that development was about movement of people from less human conditions to more human ones.
"We live in a country where economic indicators are taking off but people are remaining behind," he said.
He challenged the church to stand up for social teaching and campaign for social justice among the citizens of the world. Fr Henriot urged the church to pay special attention to controversial global issues.
"Influence church people to become activists, not just in charity but in justice. Development and peace must continue to grow and flourish," said Fr Henriot.
Women for Change executive director Emily Sikazwe thanked the organisers of the event for inviting participant from Zambia to address them.
The discussion was hosted by the university's Development Studies Students' Society.
Sikazwe is in Canada conducting a lecture at the Coady International Institute.
Labels: EMILY SIKAZWE, FR HENRIOT, UN, WFC
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Fifteen years of Women for Change
By Editor
Sunday September 30, 2007 [04:00]
As Women for Change celebrates its fifteen years of existence this Saturday, we join all those men and women of goodwill in congratulating and wishing them the best in the years to come. Truly, it is not a mean achievement for a Non-Government Organisation (NGO) in Zambia to reach 15 years and still growing stronger.
This is because most NGOs are not founded on noble causes and therefore their lifespan is usually short. They die as soon as they achieve or fail to achieve their objective. They are like dew that disappears at the feel of sunlight.
In most cases, these NGOs are selfishly sponsored by the powerful in society, including politicians. They are formed to deal with a particular situation, usually of no noble cause.
We have not forgotten a number of NGOs that were formed in 2001 when Frederick Chiluba attempted to manipulate the law so he could give himself a third term in office.
Millions, if not billions of taxpayers’ money were spent on sustaining these NGOs just to keep the third term agenda alive. But as soon as Chiluba’s third term bid was defeated, these NGOs also died. And the people who ran them became destitutes and lost credibility and reputation.
That is for those who had a bit of credibility and reputation before they chose to participate in those vain activities.
In the last few years, we have also witnessed the emergence of several NGOs whose only occupation is to issue meaningless press statements in support of some causes by their selfish sponsors.
This has not been the case with Women for Change and a few other genuine NGOs that are making a big difference to our poor and less privileged people, especially those in the rural areas.
From what we know, Women for Change was established to fight for women’s rights, including social and economic justice. But their work over the years has touched and benefited both women and men, the young and old.
This work by Women for Change has also benefited many of our people in urban areas, although their main target are the rural dwellers. Women for Change, under the leadership of Emily Sikazwe, has also proved to be a strong voice for the voiceless, a voice that many times has shut up pompous and arrogant politicians who tend to abuse human rights in general and women’s rights in particular.
That is why Women for Change has managed to grow for fifteen years and is still going strong. It is serving the purpose that a genuine NGO is supposed to serve. It has got a permanent and noble agenda. No wonder this NGO is always a perpetual thorn in the flesh of the powerful in our society.
Like Emily rightly observed, the last fifteen years for Women for Change have not been easy. Women for Change has been misunderstood several times, sometimes even by people we thought ought to have known better.
Women for Change has also been harassed in various ways; it has been intimidated, insulted.
In our view, all this is calculated to cow Emily and her comrades in Women for Change into silence on issues that affect the people they chose to serve.
That’s why we take this opportunity to encourage our brothers and sisters, our comrades in Women for Change to use this week of celebrating their fifteen years of existence to deeply reflect on where they are coming from and refocus on the future.
Reflect on the many trials, insults, accusations, harassments, intimidations and use these to strengthen your resolve to serve the underprivileged in our society.
Be encouraged by the realisation that those who say the truth always stand alone.
And so there will always be deliberate efforts to isolate Women for Change by those who see this noble organisation as an enemy for their political and personal survival.
Yes, Women for Change has been one of the few organisations in the country that are very critical to the government when the need to be critical arises. This criticism has sometimes, if not most times, exposed Emily to hatred and ridicule by those in government, those who do not appreciate the fact that NGOs exist to, among other things, offer checks and balances to the government.
Criticism, and not praise, is a very hard thing for many people to embrace. It is never pleasant. In most cases, it is very painful. But criticism is a necessary ingredient in the development of any individual or indeed a nation.
Criticism enables us to check what we have done and ensure that we are not carried away by pride, ego or personal ambition in our decision-making process, or indeed the various actions we take.
Once again, we congratulate Women for Change for all the achievements they have scored during the fifteen years of existence and encourage them to continue scoring more laurels.
Don’t let directionless people divert you from serving your people. These are men and women who only cherish praises and not criticism. They get choked even by the smallest of criticism.
As you well know, the battle will not always be easy. But use your experience to touch even more people with your noble work. And always remember that it is not everyone who will appreciate your work.
Labels: EDITORIAL, EMILY SIKAZWE, WFC
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15 years of WfC have not been easy - Emily
By Chibaula Silwamba
Sunday September 30, 2007 [04:02]
WOMEN for Change (WfC) executive director Emily Sikazwe has said her organisation's 15 years of existence have not been easy. In an interview as WfC embarks on a week-long celebrations to mark its 15th anniversary which falls this Saturday, Sikazwe yesterday said the harassments that her organisation had suffered in the last 15 years were minor setbacks.
"To us clocking 15 years is a great and humbling feeling and we look back where we came from and what we have achieved and what we have to achieve.
WfC is now a teenage girl," Sikazwe said. "In this 15-year journey we have been misunderstood, insulted and harassed but as far as we are concerned, this is part of the struggle and they are temporary setbacks.
"Personally, my journey in social justice has not been an easy one. I have been accused, condemned and convicted. However, those victimisations have not changed my philosophy.
I am inspired by the words of Martin Luther King Jnr who says 'if I can help someone as I pass along, if I can cheer someone with a word or song, if I can show somebody that he or she is travelling on a wrong road, then my life shall not be in vain'. I have dedicated my life to creating a society that is just and that respects everyone's dignity, woman or man, poor or rich."
She said during the 15 years, gallant women and men, journalists, women's movement, the Church and some progressive politicians had supported WfC.
"They have shaped us as an organisation. They have encouraged and advised and we say we owe them the existence of our organisation and particularly The Post newspapers that have come to our defence when they felt we have been unfairly accused or treated,"
Sikazwe said.
"We have made mistakes as an organisation and we are magnanimous enough to say that if we have wronged someone or people in our quest for social justice and the better Zambia and world for all, we sincerely apologise, it wasn't intentional."
Sikazwe said women and men were now working together as partners in development.
"Through our work, the issue of poverty in rural areas has been put on the national agenda. We have contributed towards the discourse of social economic rights and women's rights and it's firmly on the national agenda.
We have also uplifted the institution of traditional rulers and is now on the national agenda, resulting into the re-introduction of the House of Chiefs and you can hear our traditional leaders from all corners of the country reacting and talking about issues of human development."
Sikazwe said WfC had contributed to the democratisation discourse and demanding the inclusion of poor people and women in governance.
"We have demanded the interpretation of right to life through provision of decent shelter, clean water, healthcare and other basic services," she said. "Right to life cannot be separated from social economic rights. We would like to see the enshrining of those rights in the constitution."
Sikazwe said when WfC started, it had few beneficiaries but currently it gives support to over 300,000 people to engage in income generation activities.
Labels: EMILY SIKAZWE, WFC
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Chiluba shouldn't use Regina's case to attract sympathy - Emily
By Brighton Phiri
Wednesday September 05, 2007 [03:00]
CHILUBA should not use his wife's case to attract public's sympathy, Women for Change executive director Emily Sikazwe said yesterday. And Transparent International Zambia (TIZ) president Reuben Lifuka said Regina's case should serve as a lesson for the Task Force that they should be thorough when dealing with corruption cases and suspects.
Commenting on former president Frederick Chiluba's action at Lusaka's Woodlands Police Station where he threw himself into a cell to join his wife Regina who was detained there, Sikazwe said it was wrong for Chiluba to tempt the police to arrest him for illegally detaining himself in a police cell in a bid to attract public sympathy.
"Chiluba must wait for his turn as our courts of law are still dealing with his case.
I expect Chiluba as former head of state, to know that it is illegal and wrong for him to throw himself in a police cell without being arrested. Chiluba should not tempt our police to arrest him by throwing himself into the cell in his quest to attract public sympathy. He is lucky because the police treated him like that considering that he is a former head of state," Sikazwe said. "But Chiluba must be reminded that during his tenure of office, he used the police as instruments of terror...our memories are still very fresh on how the police tortured the late Dean Mung'omba. I, too, suffered at the hands of the police on Chiluba's orders."
Sikazwe commended the police for acting differently from the way they acted during Chiluba's era when Dr Kenneth Kaunda was arrested and thrown into police cells without any sympathy.
"During Chiluba's era it was unheard of for the police to plead with anyone, including Dr Kaunda, to get out of the police cell. Instead they were brutal under Chiluba's orders. Ask Dr Kaunda, Fred M'membe, Dr Rodger Chongwe, Post Newspaper journalists, among others, they have something to share," Sikazwe said. "We all know that under our laws, Chiluba is innocent until proved guilty, but as people of Zambia we have pronounced him guilty for crimes he committed against us. Many of our people who could have joined us in pronouncing Chiluba guilty are dead and buried because of his actions."
She commended the civil society for sensitising the police on the need to uphold and respect human rights.
And Lifuka said TIZ was disappointed with the incident at Woodlands Police Station because both the Chiluba family and Task Force could have acted differently.
"We believe that the Task Force could have handled the matter differently and Mr Chiluba and his wife Regina could have behaved in the manner befitting their status," Lifuka said. "Mr Chiluba and Regina may have some problems with the state entering nolle but that does not mean they should subvert the law."
Lufuka said the drama surrounding Regina's case should serve as a lesson for the Task Force to ensure that their actions did not raise any questions when dealing with corruption cases.
"The Task Force must be professional at all times to ensure that their actions do not raise any questions," said Lifuka.
Labels: EMILY SIKAZWE, REGINA CHILUBA, TIZ
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Levy under attack over 'school fees'
By Brighton Phiri, Nomusa Michelo and Masuzyo Chakwe
Thursday August 23, 2007 [04:00]
OPPOSITION Patriotic Front president Michael Sata yesterday asked President Levy Mwanawasa to reflect on his background before telling people to stop bearing children if they cannot pay school fees. And Women for Change executive director Emily Sikazwe said President Mwanawasa should apologise and retract his embarrassing statement.
Commenting on President Mwanawasa's statement on Tuesday that the poor people who could not afford to pay school fees should not be bearing children, Sata said it was sad that President Mwanawasa, a beneficiary of free education system, had turned against the poor people.
"Mr. Mwanawasa himself, his wife, all his ministers and permanent secretaries are beneficiaries of the free education system. Why is he trying to deprive others the service which he benefited from?" Sata asked.
"Who is Mwanawasa to tell the people that they should stop bearing children?" Sata warned that President Mwanawasa's statement was a replica of the Chinese policy on children bearing.
"There are worse things to come...very soon Mwanawasa will be telling us to stop producing children because we cannot pay for their medical fees and food," Sata said.
And Sikazwe reminded President Mwanawasa that it was a right for anyone to have a family.
"Is he telling us that since we are poor we cannot have children?" Sikazwe asked.
"Is he saying the right to having children should be the prerogative of the rich, who have plundered our resources?" She said.
President Mwanawasa should be mindful of the fact that one of his job descriptions was to reduce poverty among Zambians, who were his masters. Sikazwe said President Mwanawasa's statement confirmed that the poor were not protected under the current constitution.
"Hence, our fight for a new constitution that will include both the social and economic rights," she said.
Sikazwe asked President Mwanawasa to apologise and retract his statement because it was an insult to the majority Zambians who were poor, not by design but due to poor and unproductive government policies.
She challenged President Mwanawasa to tell the nation which background he came from before becoming a lawyer and Republican President.
"We want to know who paid for his education...was it his family or government?" she asked.
And United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) country representative Lotta Sylwander said poverty would not stop people from having children. Sylwander said having children was the most natural thing, which happens everywhere in the world and nothing could stop people from bearing children.
"It's natural to have children and it is happening all over the worked. It's the most natural thing and poverty is not going to stop them," she said.
"I think in that case government should provide proper programmes to prevent people from falling into poverty."
And Apostolic Church in Zambia pastor Duncan Simukonda said the words uttered by President Mwanawasa should not come from a Republican President.
Pastor Simukonda said President Mwanawasa was implying that those who had money were the ones who should have children.
"A President should not be using such words that promote division between two groups in society especially that the majority of Zambians are poor. A nation cannot develop without children. It is government's responsibility to ensure that poor children get an education because if they don't, the poor will remain the larger population," he said.
He appealed to President Mwanawasa and the general leadership to seriously consider their statements every time they spoke to the nation.
"What they say can build or destroy a nation," he said.
And child activist Godfrey Simukonde said the government should come up with better policies on education because there were children from poor families that had grown up to be influential people in society.
On Tuesday, President Mwanawasa advised people against having children if they could not look after them.
He said this when MMD Copperbelt Province chairman Terence Findlay reported to him that he was receiving a lot of complaints from parents who said some schools were charging fees when it was not supposed to be the case.
"Mr provincial chairman, you have talked about the fees that are being charged by the schools. I would like it if I could get more details on this: which schools are charging school fees and we know schools have been allowed to charge PTA charges and in this case you know what it is used for," President Mwanawasa said.
"It's not meant as a fee in the essence that the money does not come to government. I ask you that any parent who has a school child should be in a position to pay a little money, which is called Parents Teachers Association PTA. I want to encourage you to plead guilty to poverty because if you are so poor that you can't afford to bring up children and put them in schools then don't have children because the next thing you will be saying is that we can't buy clothes for the children, the government should buy clothes for these children.
"If the complaint is the charge for PTA, tell the people who came to complain to you that I am a wrong sympathiser because I support the concept of them contributing to the extra tuition fees charge which I think is not too much for them that it should raise a lot of complaints."
Labels: EMILY SIKAZWE, MWANAWASA, PF, WFC
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HH, Emily urge Levy to respect Dr Kaunda
By Brighton Phiri
Friday July 27, 2007 [04:00]
OPPOSITION UPND president Hakainde Hichilema has asked President Mwanawasa to treat Dr Kenneth Kaunda differently. Commenting on President Mwanawasa's statement that Dr Kaunda was ungrateful and that he had forgotten that it was he (Mwanawasa) who persuaded former president Frederick Chiluba to pay him his benefits after 1991, Hichilema said he would not use the words President Mwanawasa used against Dr Kaunda if he were in his position.
He said it could be for the benefit of the country if President Mwanawasa found time to sit down with the former leaders and address their views.
Women for Change (WfC) executive director Emily Sikazwe yesterday asked President Mwanawasa to have respect for Dr Kaunda. Mazabuka Central UPND member of parliament Gary Nkombo said it was an insult for President Mwanawasa to claim that the MMD leadership had done more than Dr Kaunda.
Sikazwe said it was embarrassing for President Mwanawasa to continue demeaning Dr Kaunda.
“It is sad reading that President Mwanawasa continues to demean Dr Kaunda when under our Zambian traditions, he is supposed to be his father and that he deserves his respect,” Sikazwe said.
Sikazwe reminded President Mwanawasa that Dr Kaunda’s emoluments did not depend on his personal mercy because they were constitutional.
“It makes sad reading each time Dr Kaunda speaks out, President Mwanawasa refers to his emoluments when he is entitled to them,” she said.
She further reminded President Mwanawasa that Dr Kaunda was entitled to freedom of expression.
Sikazwe said it was embarrassing for President Mwanawasa to compare the MMD government’s achievements to that of Dr Kaunda’s.
“President Mwanawasa must know that Dr Kaunda served longer than any of the two MMD presidents. It is extremely embarrassing for President Mwanawasa who will assume the SADC chairmanship to embark on battles which he will not win,” she said.
Nkombo said it was shameful for President Mwanawasa to call Dr Kaunda, who was a statesman and an internationally recognised leader, a chap.
“By any standard Dr Kaunda, going by his age, he is not only an old man but an internationally recognised figure who deserves respect,” Nkombo said.
He warned President Mwanawasa that it would spell doom for him if he continued resenting Dr Kaunda’s views.
He said President Mwanawasa’s attack on Dr Kaunda confirmed that his ability to restrain from reacting to divergent views was deteriorating.
“Just last week, President Mwanawasa got into an open fight against Zambia International Business Council chairman Lord Simon Cairns and now he is attacking an old man,” he said.
He said President Mwanawasa’s remarks on Dr Kaunda were tantamount to insults.
“President Mwanawasa is even younger that Dr Kaunda’s first born son Panji...it is a taboo for President Mwanawasa to call Dr Kaunda a chap,” Nkombo said.
“We can’t afford to have a head of state who whenever he opens his mouth he antagonises someone. It can take President Mwanawasa a phone call to talk to the old man if he has something to say. Otherwise it is an insult for President Mwanawasa to tell Dr Kaunda that he has done more than him. Can he compare himself to the infrastructure which Dr Kaunda built? What has MMD got to show as compared to Dr Kaunda’s schools, hospitals, health centres and parastatals?”
During a meeting with MMD officials in Livingstone on Tuesday, President Mwanawasa accused Dr Kaunda of de-campaigning the MMD government in foreign countries he had been visiting because he (Kaunda) hated the ruling party for getting him out of power.
“I used to plead with President Chiluba to sign his cheque and when he did, I personally went to give it to him. Now the chap is de-campaigning me just because he hates my party for removing him from office,” President Mwanawasa said.
“Kaunda should forget about the grudge he has for the MMD and just accept that things are better than they were before.”
Labels: EMILY SIKAZWE, HAKAINDE HICHILEMA, KENNETH KAUNDA, MWANAWASA, UPND, WFC
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