Empower women and youth, advises Nawakwi By Derrick Sinjela FORUM for Democratic Development ((FDD) Edith Zewelani Nawakwi (EZN) says unless Africa and Zambia embraces women and young people, development will continue to elude the continent. Nawakwi stressed that time had come for the Zambian people to increase access to development resources at district level, involvement of traditional authorities with the guidance of central government. Featuring on Muvi Television ‘Zambia Decides’ anchored by Costa Mwansa, on Friday 26th December 2014, Nawakwi fears that as long as the Zambian governance system persists, vulnerability will confine women and young people to the periphery of the socio-economic ladder. “People do not want to be spoon fed by handouts, people in Zambia are hardworking and require support,” Nawakwi argued. Nawakwi proposed a four-pointed plan ‘Rebuild trust leaders and people, partnership between people and the governors, Stressing the importance of commercializing the agricultural sector, Nawakwi argued that predictable policies in agriculture and mining remaining key to development the country. “Our people work hard, and once supported, they will always be productive. There is need to empower our peasant farmers with access to machinery,” Nawakwi said. On students, Nawakwi reiterated that offering study loans was an imperative consideration as the bursaries’ system in the country was now beset by corruption. “Local level people are trust worthy. Since people or villagers want to sufficiently feed families, they will be able to prudently utilize With increased school fees, that Nawakwi fears Zambia is sitting on a time-bomb of illiterate citizens. Nawakwi emphasized that agriculture remained key in attainment of sustainable development and restated that even nations preparing for war first ensure food security, a stock of ammunition, and health services and facilities in that order. Nawakwi argued that Zambia is in dire need for a leader with a vision, stressing that a promise does not amount to a vision. Nawakwi says poverty can be eradicated and Zambia transformed into an empowered community of citizens by commercializing, mechanizing agriculture and increasing value addition to agro produce. Nawakwi argued that unless the Government was as sharp as the Chilean regime Zambia would continue to earn peanuts from the mining sector. On mining sector, Nawakwi regretted that lack of consultation between the Patriotic Front (PF) Government and mining houses had had increased confrontation and instability. Nawakwi said FDD was prepared to dialogue with mining firms as the current confrontational stance would be replaced by a consultative process as both government and mining firms need to win. “We need a partnership that will benefit both the Government and mining firms. Challenges are not insurmountable they can be resolved by dialogue,” Nawakwi said. Nawakwi said the Zambian Government through Acting President Dr Guy Scott had told the mining companies to pack and go. On the cost of doing business, Nawakwi explained that creation of Minister of Energy had helped eradicate monopoly by Shell and British Petroleum (BP). “Poverty can only be tackled by creativity in consultation with the people. Motivating the people, Zambia can be rebuilt,” Nawakwi said. Nawakwi says education must be treated as an economic sector and timed had come to transform students into entrepreneurship. “Entrepreneurship must be the pinnacle of Zambian education. Africa will never fill white collar jobs,” Nawakwi said. “The army of unemployed youth is a time bomb. Not everyone can become agriculturists. We need to upgrade skills among young people and women that have been pushed out of the education system,” Nawakwi said. Nawakwi argued: “My plea to the electorate is for them to reflect that in the last 50 years to date; Zambians have been ruled and governed on broken promises. Voting for Edith Zewelani Nawakwi will result in a partnership being forged between governors and the governed.” Edith Zewelani Nawakwi (EZN) is Zambia’s first elected woman president of a political party - the Forum for Democratic Development ((FDD) formerly led by retired army general, Christon Tembo (April 2005 -) She was also Zambia’s first woman Minister of Finance, in 1998, after 33 years of Zambias independence and the first in the Southern African Development Community (SADC) region. Nawakwi is among the women pioneers that opened the door for gender equality and representation in Zambian politics and development. Born in 1958, Nawakwi has a degree in economics and business management and a post-graduate diploma in the economics of energy and development from the University of London Imperial College. Her tough minded personality has enabled her to survive the male dominated political environment. The Zambian political environment, influenced by long followed societal norms, is still in its infancy in embracing gender equality and literally a fully fledged free press as media coverage is skewed toward destructive ruling party elites. The Zambia National Women’s Lobby (ZNWL), “Very few women in Zambian Politics survive the wrath of a volatile, partisan, highly commercialised political system. Very few, indeed, stand up against injustices that have been targeted at them. Most women would rather “die quietly.” Not with Ms Nawakwi. Ms Nawakwi served as Zambias first woman Minister of Finance (1997 – 1999), while on intra-party level Nawakwi previously served as Secretary General (2001 - 2001), and deputized Lieutenant General Christon Tembo as Vice President of the Forum for Democracy and Development (2001 - 2005) Nawakwi was later appointed Minister of Labour & Social Security - Government of Zambia (1999 - 2001), after her enviable service and tenure as Minister of Finance - Government of Zambia (1997 - 1999), preceded by a stint as Minister of Agriculture, Food & Fisheries - Government of Zambia (1996 - 1997) perhaps owing to her literacy in energy economics, Ms Nawakwi was appointed as Minister of Energy & Water Development (1993 - 1996) after serving as Minister of State for Energy & Water Development (1992 - 1993).
Posted on: Fri, 26 Dec 2014 20:29:42 +0000
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