The Non-governmental Gender Organisations’ Coordinating Council (NGOCC) has questioned the omission of Zambia’s first female Republican Vice President Inonge Mutukwa Wina from the inaugural King Lewanika Royal Meritocracy awards during Kuomboka ceremony of the Lozi people.
The Litunga Lubosi Imwiko II, recognized 13 distinguished women in what were inaugural royal meritocracy awards during the Kuomboka ceremony held in Western Province at the weekend.
Mrs Wina was conspicuously missing from the inaugural list thereby raising debate on social media that the omission has politicised the awards.
Among those awarded are Speaker of the National Assembly Nelly Mutti, prominent Lusaka lawyer Mwangala Zaloumis, Zambia’s first woman cabinet minister Mutumba Bull and Ireen Muyenga who has excelled in the insurance industry.
Others are Inonge Mbikusita-Lewanika who was the first woman to lead a political party in Zambia, first woman inspector general of police Stella Libongani, the late princess Nakatindi Wina, Zambia’s first nurse Kapelwa Sikota and former director general of immigration department Ndiyoi Mutiti.
In a media statement, NGOCC Executive Director Anne Mbewe Anamela said while it is the preserve of the Barotse Royal Establishment (BRE) to honour deserving recipients the awards were questionable without the mention of Zambia’s first elected female Vice President Inonge Wina.
Mrs Anamela said NGOCC feels that as a politician and earlier, as a gender activist, Mrs. Wina has contributed immensely to Zambia’s development and surely deserved recognition.
“While it is the preserve of the Barotse Royal Establishment (BRE) to honor deserving recipients, we are of the view that these awards are inconclusive without the mention of Zambia’s first elected female Vice President Madam Inonge Wina. As a politician and earlier, as a gender activist, Ms. Wina has contributed immensely to our Country’s development and surely deserved recognition,” Mrs Anamela stated.
Mrs. Anamela, however, said NGOCC has congratulated the thirteen (13) female recipients of the inaugural King Lewanika Royal Meritocracy award for their distinguished service to the country and the world at large.
She said it was pleasing that despite the entrenched patriarchy in local customs and traditions, women continue to excel in different spheres of life.
Mrs Anamela said the recognition of women is a testament to the fact that given the opportunity women, just like men can contribute to the development of Zambia.
“The Non-governmental Gender Organisations’ Coordinating Council (NGOCC) congratulates the thirteen (13) female recipients of the inaugural King Lewanika Royal Meritocracy award for their distinguished service to the country and the world at large. The awards that were part of the 2022 prestigious Kuomboka ceremony of the Lozi people of Western Province are the first of their kind to honor deserving and outstanding women and men from Barotseland, who have served Zambia and the world well,” she said.
“It is gratifying that despite the entrenched patriarchy in our customs and traditions, women continue to excel in different spheres of life. This is, therefore, a testament to the fact that given the opportunity women, just like men, can contribute to the development of our country, Zambia,” Mrs Anamela said.
She further appealed to the New Dawn Government to fully operationalise the Gender Equity and Equality Act (GEEA) as a way of facilitating the establishment of the Gender Commission to enable gender mainstreaming in public and private sectors.
“To ensure that women’s participation is enhanced, we appeal to the New Dawn Government to immediately fully operationalise the Gender Equity and Equality Act (GEEA), to facilitate the establishment of the Gender Commission to enable gender mainstreaming in public and private sectors. As the women’s movement, we congratulate the BRE and King Litunga LubosiImwiko (II) for the bold step taken to recognise the thirteen women as the recipients of the inaugural Royal award,” Mrs. Anamela.
“We have no doubt that this single decision will motivate and inspire more girls, beyond Barotseland, to work hard and contribute to the development of the country. It is our hope that other traditional leaders will emulate this gesture as a way of bridging the wide gender gaps in the country, especially in rural Zambia. A hearty congratulations to all the gallant women that received the awards,” she added.
Meanwhile, Investment Development Consultant to the Barotse Royal Establishment (BRE) Joseph Maopu has been quoted in the media saying some people left out during the awards may be considered in future.
Mr. Maopu has said more than fifty hundred (5,000) women of eminence from Barotseland who could all have been on the award list.
“These are annual awards from now on, thus every year men and women from Barotse will be awarded by his majesty the king, he added that the men and women that did not find themselves on the list of those that were awarded are likely to be awarded in the years to come,” Mr. Maopu said.
During a luncheon hosted in honor of President Hakainde Hichilema by the Litunga at the Limulunga Royal Village, Litunga Lubosi Imwiko the second said the awards are aimed at appreciating women who have shown rare skill and bravery in their execution of duty.
In a speech read for him by the Ngambela of Barotseland Mukela Manyando, Litunga said the award is aimed at inspiring young people to work hard and serve society with merit.
President Hichilema handed over the awards to the 13 women, two of whom were given posthumously.
Are you serious? She was part and parcel of the reason why this great nation was brought to its knees during the last 10 years.
Your complaint is genuine and timely. Hakainde does not have respect for any PF member.
This woman worked tirelessly and diligently. Anyway Hakainde will be judged, his days are numbered.
By this omission, the BRE missed it. Whether you like her or not, Mama Inonge Wina has served this country well. No one will take away the fact that she was the first female VP of Zambia, in addition to various other works. There is immense bias here that negates the whole purpose of these awards if they will look at the merits from narrow perspective as opposed to national duty.
Why Hakainde? Is he chair of this grouping that chooses to politicize its cultural institution?
Simple she didn’t belong to Upnd.
Do we really need to ponder this? I think pF was probably the worst party ever. But she deserves that, simply on account of her being a woman and being the first VP.
They gave it to everyone who was the first of something, first nurse, first woman to lead political party, first woman to be police IG and so on. On that basis, she qualified.
The hatred for the PF should not have overshadowed her being recognized.
That old woman was an accomplice today of lungus crimes……….
The better she is forgotten about , the better for everyone…….
The old woman VP was an accomplice to many of lungus crimes……….
The worst , that speaks volumes of her happened when PF caders undressed a young woman next to inonge winas podium, on labour day , for wearing red……….
Mrs wina did not utter a word , nor did she attempt to intervene……….
Never once did she say anything about the many crimes and transgressions of PF against Zambians……….
She is an embarrassment to women , especially her age……..
Because she was silent when Zambians were being brutalised by regime where she was vice president
Iwe chi Writer you also then you ve no brain.Or i forgot that you are a PF cadre. As PF cadres always support the wrongs. Anyway, The voting that was done at the Rock of Authority in Kabwe in 2015/16, was validated by this woman when she galavanted at night with KBF, woke up a judge middle of the night to validate the voting that was done by rising of Hands and Pangas. Since then, we ve suffered greatly because of this witch. She was secretary general and sold the nation for her position of VP,so that history of first woman whatever,is for herself,not us. She fought for that flying at night alone with KBF on a broom stick. I dont know who was in the Riders seat between the two but they were riding on the same broom that night. So some of us cannot jst forget that,and cannot forgive, the…
The Litungas are aware of this drama more than we know, Hence it leaves no where near being honored. Also she could ve voiced against the gassing and PF hooligasm etc but she was instd defending it tooth and nail. Remember the Barotse activists who died in Prison also and his wife getting raped and killed too,all under her watch and she was very very docile and eating humble pie at statehouse.
She will get recognition next year.
DONT THROW STONES WHEN YOU LIVE IN GLASS HOUSES
SO YOU TELLING US SHE DID NO WRONG ??
THE WINA FAMILY IS CERTAINLY WELL KNOWN
MY QUESTION IS DID SHE UPHOLD THAT NAME ?
Bo Inonge Wina is an utter disgrace …she was happy to seat there whilst the thieves looted and how can you award a woman who was happy to hand out K100 notes to people like throwing seeds at chickens when they are living in abject poverty.
The Winas have been selling out since KKs time…she is no different
Inonge Wina was part of the corrupt PF government of that thieving Edgar China Lungu. That’s enough reason to put her in jail! Forget awards!
What do you expect from a govt that is run by a very angry vengeful sadist like hh. Low class mentality. F00Is
In one breath it is the preserve of the Litunga and governing establishment to use their chosen criterion in naming the deserving honorees and on the other hand many want to meddle in the process with their own criteria! Recipients all have a history with the Bulozi and the Wina’s have their own involving the Barotseland Treasury.
Spaka is 100% right in posts #7 and 8. Inonge Wina belongs to Mukobeko prison together with her accomplice Lungu as their Demerit Awards.
The late president warned us of someone dividing the nation.. Politics aside these chaps have messed up Zambia. Even when it’s not time for politicing politicians want to politicize everything, What makes you thing Ms Wina is not important! The first female vice president, You want to say good things about her, when she is dead! How st.upid…Zambians let’s learn to celebrate one another…not at funeral places… what a bad example by new yawn government…
This awards were being issued by Barotseland. Does Barotse land exist?
An indelible insult slapped on the first Zambian woman veep. Nothing will erase the smack. Honoring her in future Barotse galas is fake and insidiously hollow and false. I guess they never liked her and they feel she could have done more in the corrupt system she sanitized. To me she was a credible and worthy woman who tirelessly worked her old bones to help stir the country when we had a mediocre team looting the nation. Without that old woman, Zambia could have been worse off than then new moody team found. God bless you mama wina, you have my kudos!
Inonge Wina. Her silence amidst the atrocities that were committed by her PF party and her boss have cost her an honoured plce in Zambia’s history. Her husband would not have approved.
Mama Inonge Wina does not deserve recognition, PF already made that decision that turned out to be a misfortune for Zambia. NGOCC should create its own award for her and not for Zambia. Ask King Litunga Lubosi Imwiko (II) and BRA.
Is being a woman now the only qualification someone needs? Yes she was a first female vice president just like Chiluba was the first Zambian to chair SADC & OAU but where is he now, was he honored for his corrupt practices?NO,infact SADC was the first one review were he was hiding his stolen millions. This woman gassed people ,she bought rotten fire trucks in millions,she supposed cadres beating people in markets & bus stations – give an honour for that. Yes we can agree. Cause all those other women the Litunga has listeed,have achieve great things for the benefit of Western Province and Some Zambia at large,this was the basis for those honours. It was not meant to honour titles,even a bush monkey can have a title but a monkey cant benefit humans,cos it beats them and throws things at…
She has the honour of being Zambia’s 1st Female VP.This is a mere tribal recognition with no international recognition. She can as well be recognised by other non partisan big tribes in Zambia.
To me inonge Wina should have been top if these awards were credible. Just shows how hateful certain quarters can be. Can you compare Libongani to wina surely? The throwing of that individual in the water plus the awards just puts me off, if only this kuomboka didn’t take place mwe !
Just shows how hateful certain quarters can be. Wina was supposed to be top on that list if it was credible. Throwing of that individual in the water plus the awards makes the whole event a sham. I think I missed nothing the passed years of it’s absence.
David Kaunda – This woman was instrumental in handing that seat to the incompetent Lazy Lungu…that’s why he awarded her the VEEP position when she was a useless old hen!!
Awards should not be solicited. Bo Inonge was brought into PF by Sata. After his death that party was and still remains hijacked by all manner of thieves, scoundrels, murderers etc. Bo Inonge’s time in the PF after Sata for bystanders like myself must have been difficult. Only her memoirs if they can be written can shed light. My prayer is that UPND doesn’t go the same route. Let there be sober and democratic succession criteria centered around economic success for all political parties. I sometimes wonder about the extremes Lungu’s PF would have gone to without grandma Inonge’s assumed counsel. My post is based on pure assumptions, I hope mama Inonge can put together memoirs of what I think was not a rosy ride in PF. For now leave her alone colleagues.
THis woman has been a disgrace to other women-period!
The Litunga gave honour to individual achievements made in one’s life-what has this woman achieved in her life? mention one thing only cos being a first female vice president is not an achievement-anyone can become that. Just like KK was the first male president. Therefore, Presidents or Vice presidents are not judged based on gender but achievemnets. So name one achievement made by Inonge Wina pls?
She was excluded because of her corruption and overseeing the rape of Zambia by PF and did nothing. Don’t bring gender into this equation or that she is a women, stop the BS, she is part and parcel of the near death of Zambia.
King lewanika has the common sense to know that