Flashback – March 1997
A couple of weeks before March 8th 1997 the international women’s day, several women were angered by some letters published in local newspapers. The authors of the letters were men. They charged that women could, and would never, capably take supreme authority over men. The authors argued that women, especially those in Zambia, will always have to depend on men to succeed in whatever goals they hoped to achieve. The chain reaction that followed saw some men agreeing with the argument while many women regarded this as one of the major reasons why women were perpetually down-trodden.
On March 8, the argument grew more intense as some women turned against each other.On that day, thousands of women in various parts of the country organised marches to commemorate the day with general calls for equal opportunities.Many of them cast aside their political differences and walked side-by-side in the quest to talk with one voice to prove that what women were demanding went beyond the artificial barriers of politics.
In Lusaka, the march was crowned by a speech by Nakatindi Wina, the chairperson of the women’s affairs committee in the ruling MMD party. She said the occasion was important to remind people of the continued fight by women for equal rights, international peace and social progress. Some women also called on government to declare the day an annual national holiday.
Edith’s Nawakwi’s response to marching on Womens Day
But, not all women saw the need to mark the occasion by marching on the streets or to be addressed by some dignitary or other. Thousands of other women were either ignorant of the occasion or chose to ignore it by going about their daily business. These included street venders, women who crush stones on road sides and women who do the cooking in makeshift restaurants. So it could be said that the women taking part in the marches were the more enlightened ones.However, among the enlightened women who chose to keep away from the occasion was Zambia’s only woman cabinet minister, Edith Nawakwi. She chose to spend the day working on a farm. Nawakwi, who was Agriculture, Food and Fisheries minister, condemned the tendency of women to mark women’s day by marching in the streets rather than working. She contended that “Zambia lags behind in development because of such attitudes, by not finding a positive manner in which to mark the day.”
[pullquote]For many women, however, political positions are not the issue. All they care about is being able to raise enough money to buy food for their children and to send them to school. [/pullquote] Nawakwi was a guest at a Field Day organised by 65 women engaged in agriculture production who chose to celebrate the day by demonstrating what they were capable of achieving in the field.Nawakwi’s condemnation of the march drew a sharp reaction from Wina and other women. Wina referred to on Nawakwi’s remarks as “indiscipline” and said she would table the issue before a national executive committee meeting of the MMD, to which both belonged . But, Nawakwi’s remarks also drew support from other women, who said that she was right in calling for a new perspective by women in commemorating their day.
Such bitter differences among Zambian women are not new. In 1995, Zambian women were split on similar lines when they differed over how to present their case and on who was to lead their delegation to the Beijing Women’s Conference.Zambia ended up having two delegations, each travelling separately with its own agenda. Against this background, and two years on, the one point all women seem to agree on is that the status of women has not improved.
As Zambia Congress of Trade Unions (ZCTU) committee secretary Judith Chomba said, poverty and unemployment had risen while economic and political power is still concentrated among men.The 150-seat Zambian parliament has only 13 women, with Nawakwi the only minister. And, although virtually all political parties proclaimed in their manifestos that they would strive to enhance the status of the woman, this was not reflected in practical terms.
What women really want
In the previous November’s parliamentary elections,the MMD fielded no more than 20 female candidates. The highest figure was fielded by the Zambia Democratic Congress with 25.For many women, however, political positions are not the issue. All they care about is being able to raise enough money to buy food for their children and to send them to school. It is the inability of some of their husbands to support their respective families, that has forced many of them into such jobs as stone-crushing and the street vending of foods. And, despite AIDS and the renewed efforts of the police to curb prostitution, for some women, this has become the solution to their money needs.
The then Deputy Minister of Health, Professor Nkandu Luo, believed that despite the harsh economic climate, women could still find a “decent” way in which to earn a living, and that women should be seen to be helping their fellow women.Professor Luo, Zambia’s first female professor of medicine, is a founder of a prostitute’s rehabilitation centre.Organisations like the Women’s Lobby Group, contend that one of the solutions for inequality is ensuring that girls are given the best of opportunities and incentives for being in school. Girls’ pass marks in government schools are lower than those of boys, as a deliberate government policy to ensure that more girls advance in school and eventually get into college or university.Some principals of privately-owned schools, however, argue that setting lower pass marks for girls could eventually work against the same people in the future because they would be advancing through the stages without being fully prepared for an independent and competitive life.Others, however, argue that more should be done for the female pupil saying that government should also protect girls from early marriage.
In rural areas,many girls are married before the age of 16.For women like Cecilia Makota, however, the solution lies in farming. She noted that most women in the rural areas of Zambia are already engaged in farming and that this is what should be enhanced to improve their status. She contended that mere talk or “walking the street in marches” would not draw the support and sympathy of the government. Ms Makota, a successful farmer and business woman, says that if women are seen to be making personal efforts to succeed, government or foreign support would be easier to source.Cultural barriers have also been identified as a major drawback in efforts to enhance the status of the Zambian women. In virtually all Zambian tribes, the woman must be submissive to the man. This often means that the woman does not have much, if any, say on issues like the number of children a couple is to have. Organisations like the Planned Parenthood Association of Zambia (PPAZ)has been lobbying government to pass a law that would limit a couple’s number of children to four. The effort has so far drawn a minimal response. Zambian women have evidently identified areas they would like to tackle in an effort to bridge the gap between themselves and the men. In some cases they have also offered steps that could be taken in getting solutions. In many cases, however, implementation of the proposals has been slow. And now, given what could be seen as this problem of differences amongst themselves, some men could just take advantage and reiterate that women will always need the guidance of men to achieve any goal.
Women are always enemies of each other.No wonder women will never be united.
True dat!
Biologicaly men have larger brains and more testostroene 20 times, as compared to men, equall orppotunities unless men are subjected to a handycup similar to Golf players..
Women are strange pipo. Man should always be there to control them….sexualy, financialy, spiritualy and moraly
Really???
Mwamba Mutale, I am a single woman with 2 children & an executive job and I have never needed a man to control my life. My being highly educated and un encumbered by a man has made me progress and accept highly paying jobs requiring mobility. Not all women think men are necessary & I assure you, the coming generation of women will even be more financially, emotionally & psychologically independent from men.
No, it doesn’t. It only throws dirt in their eyes.
Good answer Numbian
No it doesn’t, especially the parades & matching is all about sexy-looks. Look at that picture, one of women has a mini-skirt in heels, but nice thigh mwe!
Women look forward to that day, so they can show off, spending so much money on hair. Instead of feeding their families. I wonder if men really go to admire them on parades.
After the parade when they are now drinking and feasting, that is when men follow them. The time comes when women would do what they have been failing to do because of the fear of their hubbies, and the the name of equality they also start proposing love to men they admire. Last year they acted like hyenas, this year you would not want to know what they did. Others gave themselves to other men before they went back home. I don’t know, if they are trying to change what God has constituted they will not win, it just confusion. Apart from that I love the women the way God has created them. They can do what man can do no one is trying to stop them, and I personally encourage that. But that will never make them men, no. Let us just work together as human beings.
If a lady can operate a jumbo machine underground, no problem. If man can play netball, no problem. If woman can be a president, an engineer, a farmer, is any problem? No. If a man can become a male nurse, can own a hair salon etc. is there a problem? No. The problem I have is that: No one has said women can become what? Nooo. They can do anything but they but still remain women, period.
It helps them. Some ladies found lovers that day. Those who couldn’t went to bars to try their lucky from there. Women cant do without mens love. They may have money or good jobs but without a lover awe sure, life is a misery. Its the same with us men. God, the creature of nature said in in Genesis that “its not good for a grown up man to be alone”. Women spend so much money to beautify themselves for what, to impress their fellow ladies, no! Why do you think the woman in the picture above designed a dress to expose her nice thigh, women want mens attention. Thats why i believe this women days should be called THE INTERNATIONAL DAY FOR MEN AND WOMEN.
Its true most women are very evil towards fellow women. Cant forget how my wife reacted when i informed her of my good intentions of marrying another lady. She reacted like my girlfriend is a devil. I told my wife that my girlfriend is expecting my child therefore cant do away with her now. My girlfriend is financial independent and has a house of her own and is prepared to continue living in her own house even when we get married. We did 2 HIV tests so far and came out clean but awe sure my wife still insists over her dead body. I have just decided to go ahead with my plans, overlooking my wife cos i love my girlfriend and i find nothing wrong with polygamy cos even holy people of old such as Jacob, David etc had more than one wife. Bakasi bamange, awe sure!
Well that is an issue you can’t understand because you might never tried to understand her feelings,when you love a person you don’t want to share,what if your wife says she is going to marry another man are you going to let her well wishing? I believe in divorce, it is clear your wife is not good enough for you or you DON’T love her so let her go. Women who are not educated have issues indeed but Zambian women and men have character weaknesses of primitive niveau. Zambians in general are jealous people. Either men or women.
koma bakamba muli chipuba, how do you even put your long fingers to the keyboard and type such nonsense. have u tried to understand your wife, how she feels about you sleeping with another woman while she’s alone and maybe even horny………….w’d you let her sleep with another man while being your wife and call it “good intentions?” ninfulwa saana ine, its mental torture to your wife, she thinks day and night why u are doing this, asking herself a million questions in one night and you call it “good intentions” support the child you have with that lady and go back to your wife and apologize and ask her to forgive you, let that woman find her own man to marry. when your wife leaves you, goes away with a heavy heart one day you will remember her my dear.
What about your wife also finding another man to marry? No body is happy to share someone they really love. It has nothing to do with being HIV negative as this is about emotions and feelings. How about your wife’s mental wellness, does it concern you? She is feeling jealous, questioning herself if she is inadequate and you in your infinite selfishness persist at getting a second wife. Why don’t you divorce her? Has she refused divorce as well? Some men are remnants of Dr Leakys’ Zinjathropus from stone age!
The year that men will march on behalf of their women then it is going to be worth it.
Does commemorating Youth day help Zambian youths in any way?
Mushala and Whitehead you are just two big hypocrites! Nothing wrong with polygamy. Our parents practiced it and it worked. Its better to marry two ladies than picking sex workers from night clubs. My wife is just selfish. I told her its for our good cos i dont want to pretend like some men. If she cant take it then fine, let her do what she wants though i still need her. Dont judge me wrong you hypocrites. Some of you even go to the extend of sleeping with fellow men when bar women can give sex.
u get it wrong again, just because some people cheat doesn’t mean all people cheat. your assumption that men who don’t marry second wives cheat is a mere attempt at comforting yourself and letting yourself feel equal to others or even better but the truth is you are a heartless man who is willing to through away the happiness of your own wife. Secondly, just because our ancestors did allow polygamy does not make it right. does it mean that you are willing to return all traditions and practices of our ancestors or you are simply picking on this one because of your desire to marry to women? Its not about ancestors or even tradition its just about you wanting to marry two women and using every reason possible to justify it. its your life, i just hope that 20 yrs frm now u wl stl be happy.
Am not to be honestly. Polygamy is something not to support in general. She is not selfish, she is just in the weak position that she loves you. May God give her strength to divorce you. You are a selfish man, well wishing you don’t pretend buy what is it that your wife isn’t giving you,have you told her? am sorry but you can’t justify yourself with those primitive arguments.
I just feel sorry for that girl child in Zambia and just Africa as a whole! Nothing will, no one will ever give them an equal opportunity, women are so interlligent, i for one have proved that, i know how much am worth, thus thats evidence enough that we are sure a partner to man, not less or a product to be used when needed, only the odds are always against that woman especially in the third world countries. I know that men are weak and i have proof so dont think am just yapping, be it white or black, all men!
The answer is NO!
women who are not married are the ones spear heading while those in marriage feel they are not protected. if they are seen in forefront by their spouse {nichovensa chisoni} it is a taboo in African history to see a women leading men and those men being lead by women are not at easy. others thing they are stupid.