The Women for Change has described as appalling and barbaric the action by alleged PF cadres who stripped naked a woman who was wearing a UPND regalia during the Youth Day celebrations.
In a statement issued to the media, WfC Executive Director Lumba Siyanga said the actions by the PF cadres were a violation of fundamental rights to dignity, privacy, freedom of association and expression.
Ms Siyanga said the actions would have lasting negative impact and would affect her rights to political participation.
“Women for Change(WfC) condemns in the strongest terms the barbaric act by the alleged Patriotic Front (PF) cadres of stripping naked a young woman who was clad in United Party for National Development (UPND) party regalia on Youth Day.
“Women for Change is deeply appalled by the action taken by the alleged PF cadres which was a violation of her fundamental rights to dignity, privacy, freedom of association and expression. In addition, the young woman will be traumatized for many years to come and could stand in her way of participating in the political life of this country which is also her right,” she said.
She said the striping of the woman is an insult to all women and an affront to the country’s democratic gains adding that such actions are a manifestation of growing lawlessness as well as the culture intolerance.
“As WfC, we view the stripping of the young woman as not only an insult to her but to all the women in Zambia. Further, it is affront to our democratic gains as all forms of violence are enemies of freedom of association and of expression whlich women are also entitled to.
“Such acts are a manifestation of the growing lawlessness and culture of intolerance which has to be condemned by all peace loving Zambians since they threaten the fundamental principles of human rights and respect for the rule of law,” she said.
She added “Moreover, violence has a negative effect on youths and women’s participation not only in politics but in development and further negates their democratic gains because our system of governance requires the participation of every member of society.
“It is a source of grave concern that the stripping of the young woman occurred on a very important day for the youth; which is meant to showcase positive efforts from all stakeholders on how they help young people solve their problems. Another great importance of Youth Day is evaluation of the Zambian youth contribution into development of the country.”
Ms Siyanga has since called on political parties, the Police Service and other stakeholders to address all forms of political violence as the country prepares for the forthcoming elections.
‘We therefore, call on the various Political Parties, the Zambia Police Service and other stakeholders to immediately take efforts to address all forms of political violence including violence against women in the country as we prepare for the August 11 2016 elections. We all have to strive to preserve or restore our culture of tolerance and a return to the respect of the key tenets of democracy; including freedom of assembly and association now and beyond 2016.
“We wish to state that we shall not rest until the culprits who stripped the young woman are brought to book and we are positive that sufficient evidence and political will for justice to prevail over the matter. As an organization we will not allow any political party to abuse women and insult them like what happened on Saturday 12th March 2016,” she said.
If this woman was indeed stripped naked in full view of the Country’s Vice- President AND the Police as reported by online media and nothing has been done, then that in itself says alot.
You should watch the video. The police were there standing and just watching. It is shameful!!!
The deafening silence that has followed by the same people who had VIP front row seats is even worse. VEEP zi, police zi, PF leadership zi. Only comment where from frank bwalya who said pictures online are FAKE and it’s propoagander by a named party this was on 13hrs news not sure if phoenix or q fm. I think the devil has even gone on holiday too many people doing his work
Ukushisambilila abengi mu PF is why they are perpetrators of violence! In broad daylight it happened with eyes of both the vice president Inonge Wina and the police yet neither she, her party nor, the police have taken decisive action to condemn and arrest the known PF cadres! We always say women never support each other and women see this incident through the varied eye view of men and especially those who degrade women! This is an opportune time for women to send a very strong message to women in political offices questioning why they don’t champion women cause thus be ready not to receive support from among women voters! Undressing a woman with hate and disrespect should make one think of hesitating if indeed they were born of woman and have female relatives. The PF cadres who…
contd….. performed this despicable act are perverts who must enjoy peeping at their mothers, aunts, sisters, cousins and, even their grandmothers! The president has to make a statement on this wicked act before meeting with other opposition parties to discuss controlling violence!
This is the problem of electing scatter brains as leaders. If they are not stripping and burning other people’s clothes, then they are hacking innocent people with pangas. The next time you hear they have started parading young girls half naked in order to win votes, then masturbating in public. When this madness stop because this is barbaric.
Scatterbrain is a very polite term. It can be used for intelligent pipo who are just disorganised. But ba PF are just plain fools…
Here is what you women for change should do, just collect that video and pictures, tell inonge and katanga to help you identify those thugs and report them to pfpolice force for indecent assault, once you do that mulandu siubola, and next campaign against pf for humiliating your fellow woman, that’s when we will know you are women for change.
I d o n t understand why women are always the ones stripped naked or urged to dress appropriately whereas it should be the men being urged to stop this barbaric act!!! it is the same case with rape, people keep saying that girls should be taught how to dress decently to avoid being raped instead of the society teaching our boys not to rape. A man would not rape a woman because she is indecently dressed nonetheless, a man would rape a woman because he is simply a rapist! and this is why we have babies as small as 5 months to old women as old as 90 years being raped!!!! we all need to understand one thing, it is not a matter of indecency but a matter of harassment, not only are the women stripped but they are also subjected to physical abuse such as being hit in their genitalia. the…
I d o n t understand why women are always the ones stripped naked or urged to dress appropriately whereas it should be the men being urged to stop this barbaric act!!! it is the same case with r a p e, people keep saying that girls should be taught how to dress decently to avoid being r a p e d instead of the society teaching our boys not to r a p e. A man would not r a p e a woman because she is indecently dressed nonetheless, a man would r a p e a woman because he is simply a r a p i s t! and this is why we have babies as small as 5 months to old women as old as 90 years being r a p e d!!!! We all need to understand one thing, it is not a matter of indecency but a matter of harassment, not only are the women stripped but they are also subjected to physical abuse such as being hit in…
I think inonge is very partsan , how could such a thing happen in front of her and decide to just keep quite? I really respected madam inonge but for now?
I nonge and mumbi Phiri should comment andnot just say the mmatter is being investigated which is the usual comment we get
If we are not careful, we will be like India where women/girls are r a ped broad day light even when traveling on a bus. This must stop and those responsible for this barbaric act must be brought to justice sooner than later. For justice delayed is justice denied. This is nothing but lawlessness of the highest and should never be allowed in any normal society.
Ignorant animals stoopid human beasts … just look at those horrible faces on the video of bestial beings … poor women living in that country?!
Shame on the drunkard govt to unleash their thugs on innocent women fed up with their id!ocy.
The problem is the Zambian mentality. Stripping women naked in public is common in Zambia, she is not the first nor the last as long as such nonsense is tolerated by the state.
It is easy to get stripped in Africa as a woman. From Lagos to Capetown, it is extremely dangerous to be a woman in those parts of the globe. Most men there are still primitive.