‘Re-opening universities good move’

THE Zambia National Education Coalition (ZANEC) has praised Government for re-opening the University of Zambia and Copperbelt University.
In March this year, students from the two universities protested over delayed payment of meal allowances which led to the closure of the institutions by the Minister of Higher Education Micheal Kaingu.
And ZANEC has further commended Government for rescinding its earlier decision to suspend the meal allowances for students on Government bursaries.
In a statement posted on Facebook, ZANEC executive director Grace Manyonga implored Government to call student unions and other stakeholders to a meeting that will bring lasting solutions the higher institutions are facing.
“We further call on both the Ministry of Higher Education and the Students Union’s to initiate a periodic platform through which they can dialogue on issues affecting higher education in particular and education in general and not wait until there is a crisis,” Ms Manyonga said.
She furthermore thanked Parliament for the introduction of the Student Loan and Scholarship Scheme Bill will be presented to the house before the dissolution of the current Parliament.
And Ms Manyonga also called for the improvement of infrastructure and other needy areas affecting the higher learning institutions.
“As a Coalition that works for the promotion to accessing quality education for all in the country, ZANEC calls upon the Ministry of Higher Education and successive governments to pay particular attention to needy areas affecting higher learning institutions such as the deplorable infrastructure and continued timely payment of lecturer’s salaries,” she said.

Early childhood education given priority

GOVERNMENT says it remains committed to the expansion of early childhood education in the country as evidenced by the recent creation of a directorate in the Ministry of General Education.
Ministry of General Education acting permanent secretary Christine Mayondi, however, said, access to early education is still low in the country as shown at Grade one entrants.
Speaking during the Zambia Preschool Association (ZPA) graduation ceremony recently, Mrs Mayondi also called on private schools in the country to work closely with the Teaching Council of Zambia to upgrade the general standard of education.
Over 300 students from various colleges affiliated to ZPA graduated with certificates and diplomas.
“To the grandaunts let me say, you have chosen the right career for yourselves. However, let me caution you that working with little children requires patience, dedication and sensitivity,” she said.
Earlier, ZPA board chairperson Faustina Katiyo said early childhood education must be appreciated by all because it improves the wellbeing and development of a child.
Mrs Katiyo also revealed that all ZPA affiliated colleges have scrapped off early education courses and will only be offering three year courses.
She said the move will enhance quality education among both the learners and little children.
“We also want to affiliate ourselves with the Teaching Council of Zambia and the Zambia National Union of Teachers so that our teachers can have better representation,” Mrs Katiyo said.

Number of female voters pleasing’

THE women movement is happy that more women than men have registered as voters in readiness for the August elections.
Electoral Commission of Zambia senior public relations officer Sylvia Bwalya recently announced that out of 1,695,580 who have registered, 850,771 are women and 844,809 are men.
In an interview, Zambia National Women’s Lobby board chairperson Beauty Katebe described the development as uplifting to the women.
Mrs Katebe said this will translate into more women being appointed to decision-making positions.
She, however, implored women to vote for fellow women in the upcoming elections.
“If we fail to have a lot of women being voted into office, then it will mean we are for the notion that women are enemies of each other and do not uplift one another,” Mrs Katebe said.
Meanwhile, Mrs Katebe said the triple V campaign that was held last year by the lobby and partners on the importance of voting are yielding results.
She said women and youths were encouraged to register as voters and help bring change and contribute to national development.
And Sylvia Bwalya said this development shows women are ready to take up the challenge.
Ms Bwalya also said women are also ready to exercise their right to vote.

Commit to fulfilling SDGs – UNICEF

UNITED Nations Children’s Fund country representative Hamid El-Bashir

UNITED Nations Children’s Fund country representative Hamid El-Bashir has challenged Zambians to commit themselves to fulfilling the Sustainable Development Goals targeted at ending child marriages.
Speaking during the official launch of the civil society on ending child marriages in Zambia recently, Dr El-Bashir said early marriage practices in Zambia are an act of desperation by both parents and the girls.
He said poverty is the major driver of early marriages in the country and said Government must critically look to ending it if the fight against the scourge is to be contained.
“There must be increase in accessibility to quality education and we must address domestic violence and define gender roles,” Dr El-Bashir said.
And Deputy Minister of Gender Dorothy Kazunga said concerted effort is needed to end child marriages in the country.
She called on more co-operating partners to help fight the scourge that has robbed millions of girls of their childhood especially that Zambia still holds the highest rates of early marriages in the region.
“Child marriages is a serious challenge the entire world is grappling with and it robs a girl child of an opportunity to get educated and contribute to national development,” she said.
Meanwhile, Plan Zambia country director Samuel Musyoki praised the Civil Society Organisations (CSOs) for forming a civil network that will see to that child marriages become a thing of the past.
Mr Musyoki said CSOs and Government have the potential to end child marriages in the country.
He said stakeholders must be willing to share their best practices and lobby and advocate for the scourge to end.
“I’m urging Government to speed up the implementation of the action plan that will end child marriages and increase investment in the education sector,” Mr Musyoki said.

‘Pass law on early marriages’

SENIOR Chief Madzimawe of the Ngoni-speaking people of Eastern Province has urged Government to pass the legislation that will compel all traditional leaders not to abet early marriages.
Chief Madzimawe said there are some traditional leaders who are not speaking against early marriages, making the fight against the scourge difficult.
Speaking during the launch of the civil society network in ending child marriage in Zambia recently, the traditional leader stressed that the fight against early marriages is serious in his chiefdom.
He said “for example, my entire chiefdom is against early marriages but some perpetrators sneak out to other chiefdoms where it is condoned thereby perpetuating the scourge.”
Chief Madzimawe also called on the members of Parliament who will be elected during the August elections to ensure that they pass the Traditional Leadership Bill that will spell out what a chief is supposed to do.
Speaking at the same function, Chieftainess Mwenda of the Tonga-speaking people of Chikankata district of Southern Province said early marriages especially in rural areas should not be difficult to fight as traditional leaders have power and authority to banish perpetrators.
The traditional leaders said chiefs can use power and authority under the chiefs Act to fight early marriages.
She called on other chiefs to take girl children to her chiefdom which has many training colleges and schools.
“Girl education is important and once girls are educated they have potential to contribute to national development,” the Chieftainess said.
And Chief Macha of the Tonga people of Choma district in Southern Province said he is one of the unpopular chiefs in the area because of the law he passed against early marriages.
The traditional ruler who has a smallest chiefdom in the province said, early marriages are not condoned and a penalty is always given to all found guilty.
He also called on Government on make the educational system in the country attractive to schoolgirls.
“The government must build schools within communities and school girls walking long distances to access education,” Chief Macha said.

Chiefs lead campaign against early marriages

Chief Madzimawe

HER advice to young girls that they should not be lured into early marriages because men are liars sent the crowd into laughter as they listened to her story at Intercontinental Hotel recently.
Ennie Mwiinga (25) of Chibombo district shared a story of how after getting pregnant was enticed into getting married that left her with nothing but regrets.
She said marriage is the worst nightmare for young girls especially due to the physical and emotional abuse they are subjected to.
“My husband would beat and insult me. All this happened when I was doing my grade nine and I couldn’t concentrate in class because all I could was dwell my thoughts on the torture I was undergoing and on my child,” Ennie said.
Currently, Ennie is on a girl power project under the auspices of Plan Zambia which is empowering girls withdrawn from early marriages with life sustaining skills.
Over 700 million girls and women globally like Ennie have been married before the age of 18.
In Zambia, 45 percent of women aged 25-49 percent being married before the age of 18, one of the highest rates in the region.
The practice of child marriage defined as a formal marriages or an informal union before the age of 18 is a reality that continues to affect many children globally.
In response to the continued prevalence of the practice, the Zambian government has launched various campaigns against the vice and has signed various treaties to fight the scourge.
Early marriages in Africa normally carry the face of rural girls who are either married off by their parents or themselves due to poverty.
This is why some chiefs have fiercely come against the scourge with hope to completely wipe it out from both their chiefdoms and the nation at large.
One shining example of a traditional leader who has earnestly fought early marriages at its core is chief Madzimawe of the Ngoni speaking of Eastern Province.
With the province having one of the highest early marriages rate at 63 percent, the traditional ruler has taken the fight personal saying girls must at all cost get an education because they have potential to contribute to national development.
His recent score against the scourge was when he managed to withdraw 15 girls from marriages this year in February and ensured they get back into school.
His remarkable success has seen him open a ‘Madzimawe foundation’ that will open up safe houses for girls withdrawn from the marriages, draw up mentorship programmes, and raise awareness against the scourge.
“The Madzimawe foundation came after we trained 85 school girls in a mentorship programme and the response we got was overwhelming. Their head teachers gave us feedback that they noted some changes in the schoolgirls and for me that was motivation enough,” chief Madzimawe remarked.
Another way the passionate activist fights early marriages is having influential female figures that can act as role models talk to the girls and inspire them to aspire for greatness in life.
However, the fight does not always come without challenges, the traditional ruler was quick to point out that girls themselves are a hindrance to the fight as they are not willing to come out of the marriages despite the seen challenges they face.
Chief Madzimawe noted that there is need to change the mindset of the girls and sensitise them on the consequences of early marriages.
He said police fail to persecute such cases because girls themselves are hostile and do not want to provide information needed by the police.
“We also face financial challenges that make it hard for the girls to complete their education. When we withdraw the girls, it is hard for us to put them back into school because we have no resources and some of them end up either staying home or getting back into marriages,” he lamented.
Another gallant fighter of early marriages is chieftainess Mwenda of the Tonga people of Southern Province.
Chieftainess Mwenda who is also God’s follower said her strength and support to fight the scourge comes from her headmen who despite being men know the importance of sending girl children to school.
The traditional leader who is a nurse by profession and ambassador against early marriages in Southern Province said she is in herself a role model to the girls.
She said “a role model doesn’t have to be that educated but as long as they are in good standing with society, they are fit to be role models. I was modelled by my mother and grandmother.”
Chieftainess Mwenda last year managed to withdraw 300 girls from early marriages and helped enrol some at Chikankata Nursing School.
She also called on other chiefs involved in the fight against this scourge to always take the girls withdrawn from marriages to her chiefdom to be enrolled in various colleges dotted in the province.
And chief Macha of the Tonga speaking people of Southern province said he has come up with a law that penalises parents who marry off young girls in his chiefdom.
He penalises people in accordance with the provisions within the chief’s Act that gives the chief power to punish anyone found wanting.
The traditional leader said he is unpopular in his chiefdom because of this policy.
“I’m however appealing to Government to build schools which are within the reach of pupils. Pupils are subjected to long distances and it is obvious that along the way girls can be lured into relationships along the way either to school or home,” he said.
It is undoubted that the involvement of traditional leaders in the fight against early marriages has potential to wipe out the scourge. And it is hoped that other chiefs can come on board and together they can and must speak with one voice against the vice.

2016 elections chance to attain equality – lobby

ZAMBIA National Women’s Lobby (ZNWL) has observed that the 2016 elections are an opportunity for the country to achieve gender equality as many parties have pledged to support the cause of women.
And the ZNWL has launched a project dubbed ‘count me in’ with the support from the United States Agency for International Development that aims to groom aspiring female candidates in six districts to effectively participate in the August elections.
ZNWL board chairperson Beauty Katebe challenged political parties to honour their commitment of fielding 40 percent of women candidates ahead of the polls.
Mrs Katebe implored the electorate to support and vote for women during the forth-coming elections.
“All political parties who have promised to field in 40 percent of women ahead of the August elections must honour their commitments and walk the talk. It must not just end in mere pronouncements,” she said.
And USAID rights and governance officer Jenny Neville commended ZNWL for its endeavour to raise the profile of women in politics.
Ms Neville said politics play a vital role in the country’s democratic dispensation.
“ZNWL is doing a commendable job in the country and it is incumbent upon the women to take the leading role as well,” she said.
And project officer Matimba Choombe said the ‘count me in’ project will be implemented over a period of one year in North-Western and Luapula provinces, which are among the areas with the lowest representation of women members of Parliament and councillors.
Mrs Choombe said the project will develop the political leadership skills of women who wish to stand as parliamentary and local government candidates through mentorship and training.
She said: “ ZNWL will work with eight political parties namely Alliance for Democracy and Development, Forum for Democracy and Development, Movement for Multiparty Democracy, National Restoration Party, Patriotic Front, Rainbow party, United National Independence party and United Party for National Development.”

Linda Kasonde: Walks where no woman walked

SEATED in the seat of authority, ready to take up the challenge, Linda Kasonde, the newly-elected first female Law Association of Zambia president, looked confident, composed and aware of what that office holds for her.
Meeting her in person and for the first time, one could tell that she is not only intelligent but a force to reckon with. She beat two male contenders and emerged victorious at the just-ended LAZ annual general meeting held in Livingstone last weekend.
Having assumed office, the first three things on her diary are: to do the right thing, to be progressive and being bold as she conducts her day-to-day work.
“I want to leave a legacy of having done the right things and be an example of true leadership to women and girls,” Ms Kasonde says.
Indeed true leadership, advocacy and activism are her trademarks that helped her sail through the election which she is ready to display in her quest to carry on the mantle of the association to greater heights.
Ms Kasonde, who is currently an administrative partner of the Mulenga Mundashi Kasonde Legal Practitioners, notes that it is not just about winning an election but rather it is about delivering on the promises one made.
“Winning an election is not enough but I must ensure I deliver on the promises I made, that are what true leadership is all about,” she expressively said.
The ardent social activist who draws her inspiration and strength, from her mother is proud that she has opened the door where no woman walked and hopes to leave it open for other women to walk through.
“Now that I have opened the door, it is time that other women aspire for this position and aim even higher. Such positions require greater strength, and women in leadership are perceived and judged harshly because it is rare to find a woman in such shoes,” Ms Kasonde said.
One thing for sure is that women bring a new dimension to the leadership table and the more women there are in decision-making positions, the more equity and equality society is bound to have.
This is why she is prepared to bring equity and equality to both men and women without disadvantaging anyone based on sex.
Perhaps, her steady progression and rise through the ranks at LAZ are what has made her so enthusiastic about her job.
“I started out as an ordinary member and rose through to the ranks of convenor of committees then honorary secretary, vice-president and now president. So you can see that my rise has been a steady progression, it is not something I just jumped into,” she recalls.
What is more interesting and appealing about her rise to the presidency is that she had no woman role model to look up to as there has been none before her.
“My favourite motto is by Madeleine Albright, American’s first woman Secretary of State of the United States, which says there is plenty of room for mediocre men but there is no room for mediocre women, meaning society judges the performance of women in jobs, research fields and industries typically dominated by men as reflective of the entire female gender,” Ms Kasonde notes.
Her reaction to the announcement of her victory, she says, came as a surprise because it could have gone either way but she describes it as overwhelming, thrilling and a big achievement.
She said, “But somehow I knew that I was going to make it based on my track record and performance, the whole time I have been at LAZ. I am glad the people I worked with like my past president James Banda and immediate past president George Chisanga, really they mentored and supported me.”
According to International Bar Association, Ms Kasonde holds an LLB degree from the University of Leicester in England and Masters degree in Law from the University of Cape Town, South Africa. She is a member of the Chartered Institute of Arbitrators, an Office of the Women’s Interest Group Committee of the International Bar Association and convenor of the continuous professional development committee of LAZ.
Her passion for social activism and fight for human rights and justice draws as far back as her high school days in Swaziland in the 1990s where she was taught to do community service.
During her high school days, it was mandatory to do community service and she did it with so much joy, especially that she was also mentored by her parents to always be of service to others.
The daughter of late Joseph Kasonde and Doctor Dorothy Kasonde said she did a three-year programme in law in Mbabane, Swaziland, which earned her a first job at the National Legal Aid Clinic for Women under LAZ.
“At the clinic we would provide women with free legal services and I worked there for three years and that is when I joined Mulenga Mundashi law firm. I rose to becoming a partner at the age of 30 and a few years later, I was given the honour of being made full partner,” Ms Kasonde reminisces.
Having been raised to value herself to be anything she wanted and have a profession, she is elated that she has proved a good child to her parents and still practising what was instilled in her.
Apart from being a lawyer, social activist and women’s empowerment advocate, Ms Kaonde is also a director for Alchemy Women in Leadership.
It is the hope of everyone that as a woman, she should be a mentor to fellow lawyers, be a voice of the voiceless in society and help bring sanity and justice in our society.

Number of teens living with HIV/AIDS worries Prof Baboo

A LUSAKA-BASED professor of public health and tropical medicine, Kumar Baboo, is concerned about the continued rise in the number of young people living with HIV and AIDS.

Doctor Baboo cited young people as those aged between 12-19 years old and attributed their living with HIV and AIDS to unprotected and indiscriminate sex.

Making a presentation during the Zambia Institute of Mass Communication (ZAMCOM) science café on the status of HIV/AIDS response in Zambia, Dr Baboo wondered why young people who are still in school are engaging in sex at a tender age.

ZAMCOM’s science café is sponsored by AVAC to accelerate the ethical development and global delivery of HIV prevention tools as part of a comprehensive and integrated response to the epidemic.

“What is expected of these young people is to focus on their studies instead of engaging in indiscriminate sexual behaviour. Actually the large uptake of condoms is among young people but they do not know how to use them; that is why often they end up being infected with HIV,” he said.

And Dr Baboo challenged young people to claim ownership over the voluntary medical male circumcision as it has potential to prevent over six million new HIV/AIDS infections.

“One male circumcision done prevents six new HIV/AIDS infections and cervical cancer in women. If we carry out more interventions, it means we are on the right track in our fight against HIV/AIDS,” he said.

Meanwhile, Dr Baboo noted that lack of uniformity in laws and policies in the fight against gender-based violence (GBV) and gender inequalities.

He said all institutions in the country have different views regarding GBV and gender inequalities resulting in failure to end the scourge.

“Equality is mandatory in most government institutions but when you go into the church, women are expected to be submissive and cannot take a leading role, so laws and policies are not uniform,” he said.

Adopt more women candidates – NGOCC

NON-Governmental Organisations Coordinating Council (NGOCC) has implored President Lungu to challenge political parties to adopt a quota of 50 percent of women among candidates for political offices.

NGOCC board chairperson Sara Longwe noted that the quota of 50 percent will be according to Zambia’s commitment under the 2008 SADC Gender Protocol.

Speaking during a meeting with President Lungu, Ms Longwe called for the holding of the referendum separate from the general election to ensure approval and subsequent enactment of the expanded bill of rights.

“The Bill of Rights is critical to the well-being of women, youths, people with disability, elderly and poor and outlaws discrimination and introduces social, economic and cultural rights,” she said.

Ms Longwe further called for quick appointment and operationalisation of the Gender Equity and Equality Commission which will ensure that gender discrimination is eliminated.

“We call upon Your Excellency to take a keen interest into what is happening and support other locally initiated campaigns such as the Good Husband campaign, I Care About Her campaign, among others,” she said.

The women’s movement also raised concern over the high cost of living and especially with the recent price hike and shortage of mealie-meal in the country.

According to the Jesuit Centre for Theological Reflections (JCTR), the basic needs basket, the cost of a monthly food basket for a family of six, is about K4,300, which is beyond the reach of most families and is indicative of the prevalence of poverty and malnutrition.

GGAZ calls on more early marriages sensitisation

THE Girl Guides Association of Zambia (GGAZ) has observed that there is need for more sensitisation on early marriages in peri-urban areas because that is where the scourge is rampant.

GGAZ executive director Caroline Kafunya noted that girls in peri-urban areas are vulnerable to early marriages due to poverty and limited information on the scourge.

Mrs Kafunya was speaking at a sensitisation meeting on early marriages in Mtendere township under a project dubbed Youth Exchange from South to South (YESS).

The YESS campaign is being carried out in nine African countries by the YESS girls’ participants and member organisations in order to sensitise the community on the full potential of girls and women.

The meeting was attended by Zambia’s songstress and child rights activist Daputsa Nkhata, alias Sista D.

“Parents and girls in communities must realise that a girl child can also be modelled into a full grown adult with potential to be great and reach greater heights like a man,” Mrs Kafunya said.

Alice Mbewe (15), a grade nine pupil at New Mtendere Basic School, said indulging in early marriages is not healthy for girls.

She said girls her age who get pregnant face the risk of suffering from vaginal fistula which they can die from, because their bodies have not matured to handle child birth at an early age.

“My advice to my friends is that let us try by all means to stay in school and avoid engaging in relationships we are not ready for, otherwise we will end up in early marriages or getting pregnant,” she said.

And Lydia Nyika (17), a grade nine pupil at Mahatma Ghandi Basic School, reiterated calls for girls to forsake early pregnancies and marriages.

Lydia said getting pregnant whilst still living with one’s parents doesn’t show respect, a practice she described as being against the African culture.

Zim lawmaker hails PF-PINK

THE Patriotic Front’s newly-formed female wing dubbed ‘PF-PINK’ has been praised for its initiative to inspire young women to take up the mantle in leadership and politics.
PF-Pink was launched in June last year and is being pioneered by Petauke member of Parliament (MP) Dora Siliya and her Shiwang’andu counterpart Steven Kampyongo with the hope of inspiring young women.
Recently, PF-Pink held a one-day conference which drew participation from young women from different walks of life.
Speaking at the function, Minister in the Office of Zimbabwe’s Vice-President Tabetha Kanengoni Malinga praised the initiative and called for more participation of young women in politics.
Mrs Malinga, who is also Mazowe Central MP, said women who are already in politics should not close the door for young women but should leave it open for more to fill the vacuum.
She observed that women are born leaders because they are able to multi-task when compared to men.
“I am the youngest female minister and MP in my country and I aspire to see more of young women taking up the mantle of leadership both in decision-making and politics,” Mrs Malinga said.
She pledged to form such an initiative in Zimbabwe African National Union-Patriotic Front (ZANU–PF) to allow for young women to join.
Speaking at the same event, South Africa’s former Minister of Communication Dina Pule commended the PF-Pink, describing it as a ladder for young women to climb on their way to leadership.
Ms Pule said leadership and politics must not only be for survival but must be a passion and servitude.
She said the initiative to have young women in politics is not meant to oust the older ones but to have about 50 percent of women in decision-making.
“Once our generation in politics is phased out, young women can easily take up the mantle and continue from where we will end,” Ms Pule said.
And Ms Siliya said if women are to be recognised in politics and leadership, they must first avail themselves and be ready.
Ms Siliya said the struggles women go through transcend party lines and that is why all women should support one another.

Women urged not to sell land

THE Parliamentary committee on land has said there can only be equal access to land by men and women when women stop selling land in their possession.
The committee, chaired by Kalomo Central member of Parliament Request Muntanga, observed that some women are frustrating the efforts of their counterparts who are fighting tirelessly to have more women access land.
Mr Muntanga said there must be accountability and transparency in the way women are selling land.
He said this when acting House of Chiefs representative Elina Phiri appeared before the committee to discuss access to land by women.
“If a study was to be conducted, you will discover that most women now have access to land but majority of them are selling it. And most of those who are buying this land from women are men, resulting in more men having more access to land,” Mr Muntanga said.
And Nalikwanda MP Geoffrey Lungwangwa said having more female chiefs in the country will contribute to increased access to land by women, especially in the rural areas.
Professor Lungwangwa said most tribes in Zambia are matrilineal and that is why women must ascend to the chieftainship.
“Most tribes in our country follow the matrilineal set-up and as such we must have more women ascending to the chieftainship; this will benefit a lot of women in return,” he said.
In response Ms Phiri said inasmuch as most tribes in the country are matrilineal, society still has the patriarchal system in place which has continued to disadvantage women.
Mrs Phiri said most women gain access to land through their sons, especially when one is married.
She also called for land acquired by women to be registered to avoid being grabbed in the future.