Women Politicians In Zambia

"We have to explore alternative sources of energy like solar and others to enhance access to energy. Alternative sources are much cheaper than electricity."

"Women make up a huge percentage of the informal sector, particularly in agriculture, which is the world’s largest employer, so their concerns have to be taken into account."

"I have a lot to take away from this conference. The experiences are very fulfilling. I am particularly happy that Africa was more united at this conference, and some of the continent’s issues have been taken on board in the outcome document. Rio+20 is about making the world better in the next 20 years, and I believe that is possible."

"This is a big task which calls for more innovation. I am hoping the financing gaps will not force Africa to go back on its commitment to give its citizens a better future."

"The West does not owe us a living. We have to be creative and find money to make the objectives of Rio+20 a reality. Some of the resources have to be sourced internally. We have to improve living standards by making the environment safer."

"I will criticise when that is due but we need a pool of knowledge to take the country forward. We can all contribute to national development in various ways."

"We need to step out of our political cocoons and see what others are doing. If I didn’t come here, I would not have known which way the world is going in terms of sustainable development."

"As I went to file my nomination, as I walked up to the Chief Justice, I asked myself ‘Why am I doing this?’ I was (asking) myself ‘am I equal to the task?’ But when I looked at my supporters and their excitement, it helped me appreciate the trust. I believe Zambia is ready for a woman to be president. Only a woman can bring about real change in this country."

"I was minister of finance at a time when Zambia was at its lowest. I remember there was a day when I was required to effect payment for half a million dollars and the government did not have any money. We had to borrow from one of our commercial banks. We were trying to liberalise the economy but we had no income in the country. I was privileged to be one of those who managed to push through the structural adjustment programme."

"Zambian women have the same rights as men, and running for political office is not an exception. When I took over as minister of finance people had all sorts of negative questions because I was a woman... I was minister of finance during one of the most difficult phases in the history of our country, but I managed to contain the situation."

"Our agenda when we get into government (will) be to provide a constitution that provides for the rights of all individuals, including women and persons with disabilities."

"Nothing and no one will stop me now. I believe that Zambia will only be saved by a woman and that Zambia is ready for a woman president. As soon as the men heard I was contesting, they all panicked. I will work and deliver like I delivered when I was minister of finance. The current leadership belongs to the liberation struggle era. We need leadership for the 21st century!"

"So those people have not reported to us, we don’t know the workers, we haven’t seen them. Anyway, for the mayor, yes he apologized and I think our Labour Commissioner will be getting the details from him but we haven’t heard anywhere else. That is also the only one we saw but what I am saying is workers have the right to report the employer if that employer is forcing them to do what is not in the labour laws. They have a right to report to our ministry or utilize the District Commissioners, they are there and they have been very active to help us on issues of labour."

"Now if we are going to be cowards, then we are not going to implement anything. The generation of today, if it was the generation which was there to gain independence, by now, we could still have been under colonial rule because people are scared of the unknown. Now us as Ministry of Labour, we are not God; as minister, I won’t guess what is happening in Kafue, I am not a super human being. So that’s why relationships between employer and employee, the most important thing is communication, we should communicate to each other. So I am appealing to all the workers to know their rights and communicate to us, we even have a toll line now, we have told them they can call us on a toll line and tell us. If they are cowards, they should tell us that this is the employer and this is how we are working without necessarily them telling us their name, we have done all that."

"If the current generation was the one that existed during the liberation struggle, the country would still be under colonial rule because today’s workers had too much fear of the unknown."

"My ministry had not received any complaints from workers working for Chinese businesses but would get details from Lusaka Mayor Miles Sampa on the Chinese companies that were forcing employees to stay on their premises in a bid to avoid them being exposed to the Coronavirus."

"The problem in Zambia is that we don’t analyse and evaluate those aspiring for leadership. We only get excited when they tell us what we want to hear."

"We have labour laws, people must read and understand them and I tell them every day, there is no one who can fire you for saying the truth, let them fire you if you are lying."

"The generation of today, if it was the generation which was there to gain independence, by now, we could still have been under colonial rule because people are scared of the unknown."

"When John F. Kennedy said, ‘Ask not what your country can do for you, ask what you can do for your country,’ that statement was not meant just for the USA but for every youth in the world."

"Remember, this was the era of The Cold War, the black and civil rights movements in America, and the decolonization of Africa, so all of these had an impact on me and contributed to shaping my outlook on life and my dedication to public service."

"I think the life of honourable [Alexander] Chikwanda has been a demonstration of dedication to public service. When you are a leader in politics, do not make enemies because this job of politics is neither here nor there. We are just elected to serve our people, to serve the nation and after that, you become an ordinary citizen. And you should be able to relate to other citizens in a manner that does not antagonize anybody. So there are many lessons we can learn from the life of this man. And for me, I have collaborated with him throughout our adult life. So we come from that generation of service to the nation. So that is why really, we shall miss him. His counsel and his advice have always been very genuine."

"Inonge Wina speaks as Zambia’s first female Vice President"

"I want women to enjoy the same rights and benefits as men”"

"I want to see a reduction in poverty levels, ensuring that every Zambian benefits from our policies. I also hope that every girl receives an education, just like boys, and that women enjoy the same rights and opportunities as men. In 50 years, Zambia should transition from being a developing country to a middle-income country."

"In response to the question, "What have you achieved in politics? Inonge Wina replied"

"My primary responsibility is to my constituency, where I've successfully lobbied for development. I’ve also made significant contributions in raising awareness of gender issues within the community."

"In response to the question, "When and why did you decide to join politics?" Inonge Wina replied"

"I come from a family of women leaders, and my husband was also active in politics. At that time, I was working with NGOs. After my husband passed away, I made a deliberate decision; I believed that those of us in leadership positions in civil society need to step forward. I was then elected to Parliament in 2001. Initially, I served in the opposition, but since the last elections, our party, the Patriotic Front, has been in government."

"It is important for us to groom other women, especially the young ones."

"I think time has come for me to pass on the baton to the younger generation. We have done our part."

"It was a privilege for me, but it also had the benefit of renewing the ambitions of young women in my country."

"Corruption takes two people. People that have not been in these offices think that Ministers are in charge of the disbursements of money. Ministers are just policymakers. There are people that are in charge of disbursing money. If a Minister was involved, at what point was that Minister involved? Corruption could also be in words. What words were used to corrupt the morals of somebody? You can be morally corrupt or involved in a financial scandal. I am happy with the steps the government has taken but let us yield results. We should not speak about it for a long time."

"With any crime, there must be some evidence given. It has been a song sung and I am happy that the government of the day has taken some steps to investigate. My concerns are that they have not come up with tangible evidence against those that are being investigated. What I mean is that it is taking too long to send or convict these people. There has been time spent at primary level without [a] graduation to a higher level. Courts also need to speed up these convictions. It is only when the courts prove you guilty then you can be called guilty."

"However, the things that used to happen in PF, they have continued even in UPND. The cadres are still in markets and bus stations. When you are in office, it is very difficult to know what is happening on the ground. The evil practices have continued. Whatever we say, we will be seen as using a political lens. President Hakainde said when he wins and is sworn in at 10:00 hours, by 14:00 hours, the Dollar would have dropped. That 14:00 hours has not yet come and we are waiting for the 14:00 hours."

"I had come to see (Ronald) Chitotela."

"A woman is naturally an intelligent being as her learning starts at a very tender age and even in leadership a girl starts looking after her siblings even ones older than her at a very tender age as she is naturally endowed with such traits."

"Girls need to pull up their socks because they are a minority in key decision making positions and if they do not pull up their socks, then the numbers will remain dwindling in the appointments as education is the only equalizer."

"I pledge to do my best. I commit myself to be a servant of my people."

"Change is not the solution. Continuity is the way to go."

"Let us conduct issue-based politics. Let us allow peace, love and unity to continue in our country."

"It is extremely difficult to access projects or programmes when you have an opposition leader."

"We are one family and politics should not divide us."

"We should be signing another bilateral agreement with Angola, a country that hasn’t definitively entered COMESA yet. Trade between our countries is once more a normal tariff. When we sign this agreement we will be able to ensure that our industry here will have an export market. That bilateral agreement puts Zambia at an advantage because we can’t get our products into that market on a duty-free basis at the moment. Angola doesn’t produce much, and they want everything from Zambia: rice, sugar, fruits, vegetables and they also want chickens and eggs. They want everything, and here we are. If we can build up the capacity within our industries, we are able to use Angola as a market."

"My challenge to them was to come here and don’t look on Zambia as somewhere where they’re just going to take their goods. “Look at Zambia as somewhere you can also get goods into South Africa” I said. And I’m happy to say that now Zambian honey has finally entered the South African market. The things that we’re trying to do to support industries such as honey, pineapples, cassava, are oriented to strengthen the value chain and to be able to produce for non-traditional exports. Within this context, the Tripartite is key."

"In the medium term I see things improving mainly because of what we’re concentrating on as a government. In my ministry in particular, traditional exports will grow. Some of the things that we’re doing to enhance them is strengthening our relations with our immediate neighbors like DRC for example. Congo is in the Southern African Development Community (SADC) and the Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa (COMESA) but they have not yet reached a stage where they can fully liberalize for us to trade freely."

"When the procedures for starting a business and the licenses are expensive with tedious procedures, entrepreneurs avoid that cost by operating informally."

"If we do not position our industry to become a key regional player, we will be faced with high levels of imports into our country, which can lead to the death of local industry."

"The opportunity is out there. If I don’t put a road there, how do I harness the potential that is there. Debt, much as it looks high, it’s a debt for the future."

"I really believe that economic emancipation through women is something that can turn this country around."