The Socialist Party in Zambia says that it is impossible to achieve meaningful emancipation of women without eradicating capitalism.

Speaking during the socialist party women’s league coordinators meeting in Lusaka recently, Socialist Party 2021 presidential candidate Dr Fred M’membe said the women’s league was created as a wing of the party for specific purposes to be achieved.

Dr M’membe disclosed that there are many types of feminism in the world today whose discourse was dominated by capitalists.

“We are not capitalist, our feminism is different from that of capitalists,” he said.
He stated that the socialist women’s league and youth league had to be run 100% on communist ideological discourse.

“Any departure from that will not be accepted,” he said.

Dr M’membe indicated that socialist women’s league would be subject to the direction of the socialist party central committee when it was constituted.

“70 percent of the membership of the party is women, issues to do with women must and have to dominate the party agendas,” he said.

Dr M’membe lamented that women wage double and general struggles against capitalism, oppression and humiliation.

“Women waging double struggles mean they need more support, commitment and additional institutions like the women’s league,” he said.

He stated that issues concerning women and their struggles can sometimes become complicated which requires a lot of education -ideologically and politically.

“We need to deepen our understanding ideologically to avoid drifting back to bourgeois feminism,” he said.

Dr M’membe further stated that the socialist party would look up to the socialist women’s league to produce leadership for the party.

Confusion has erupted in the National Democratic Congress as demoted Secretary General Mwenya Musenge refuses to recognise Chishimba Kambwili as Party President.

Mr. Musenge says he does not recognise his dismissal as National Democratic Congress Secretary General by Mr. Chishimba Kambwili.

Mr. Kambwili was yesterday appointed President of the opposition NDC and quickly demoted Mr. Musenge to Member of the Central Committee in charge of Chiefs and Traditional Affairs and replaced him with Bridget Attanga.

But Mr. Musenge said he remains Secretary General of the NDC describing the Central Committee meeting that appointed Mr. Kambwili as illegal.

He said whatever meetings that are held without his knowledge are illegal and will never be recognised.

Mr. Musenge said the party constitution is clear that without any elections held, the Secretary General is the only person mandated to run the affairs of the party.

He has since advised members of the party not to recognise Mr. Kambwili as Party President.

Announcing Mr. Kambwili’s appointment yesterday, NDC vice president Joseph’s Akafumba said that Mr. Kambwili will be the sole NDC presidential candidate for 2021.

Mr. Akafumba said that the decision to endorse Mr. Kambwili as President was arrived at yesterday during a central committee meeting.

The meeting was held at the NDC Secretariat.

The strike action by Zambia Postal Services Corporation workers has today entered the second month with no signs of them returning to work.

On 18th March, Postal Services workers countrywide downed tools demanding that they be paid their six months’ salary areas.

With most of them evicted from their houses due to failure to pay rentals and others struggling to pay school fees according to Union Leaders, the workers vowed never to resume work until they are paid their salaries.

A check at selected post offices in Lusaka found the Offices locked with a few customers mostly those that have had their goods stuck at the Post Offices hoping for the opposite.

Customers who use Postal Couriers talked to indicated that they have had their merchandise stuck at the Post Office due to the strike action taken by the workers.

And when contacted, a Union Leader who spoke on anonymity for fear of victimization vowed that the workers will not resume work until they are paid their now seven months’ salary arrears.

He said the workers feel insulted after management offered them K500 to go back to work when most of them are owed over K25, 000.

The Union Leader challenged Transport and Communications Minister Brian Mushimba to help them collect the K20 million the company is owed as most of it is owed by Government Ministries.

He said the refusal by government to bailout the company is surprising especially that they are partly the cause of the financial problems.

President Edgar Lungu is set to launch the National Dialogue Forum on April 25th 2019.

And the Head of State has appointed Professor Muyunda Mwanalushi an academia at the Copperbelt University as chairperson of the National Dialogue Forum subject to ratification by delegates who will attend the forum .

Justice Minister Given Lubinda told journalists in Lusaka that the Secretary to the Cabinet has also appointed Patrick Chisanga, who has vast experience in leadership and governance issues, as secretary to the forum .

Mr Lubinda said that Mr. Chisanga will also be subject to ratification by the delegates .

Mr. Lubinda further announced that accreditation of those who have been nominated by their respective institutions will be conducted on Tuesday at Mulungushi International conference center.

Mr. Lubinda has explained that the process shall be as transparent and participatory, but was quick to mention that detractors of the process will not be condoned .

“Those who will stay away should restrain themselves from casting aspersions against those who will participate,” he said.

The minister has indicated that the forum shall come to an end 10 days after the commencement of the seatings .

And Minister of Home Affairs Stephen Kampyongo has thanked stakeholders who participated in the debate on the Public Order Act.

“This is the very first time that government willingly has opened doors and through the Ministry of Justice requested people to make submissions and that includes the law enforcers themselves, the Zambia Police,” he said.

The National Democratic Congress (NDC) has endorsed Chishimba Kambwili as its party president. During a press briefing held today, NDC vice president Joseph’s Akafumba said that Mr. Kambwili will be the sole NDC presidential candidate for 2021.

Mr Akufuna said that the decision to endorse Mr. Kambwili as President was arrived at today during a central committee meeting. The meeting was held at the NDC Secretariat today.

Mr. Kambwili has accepted his endorsement as the leader of the NDC and moved quickly to fire Mwenya Musenge as NDC secretary General. The new NDC President has instead decided to appoint Mr. Musenge as a Member of the Central Committee in charge of Chiefs and Traditional Affairs and warned media houses to stop quoting Mr. Musenge as party SG. In Mr Musenge’s place, Mr kambwili has appointed Bridget Attanga as NDC secretary General.

Mr. Kambwili has also dropped party chairperson in charge of elections Ackson Simwezya, Mr Simwezya has been replaced by Menyani Zulu.

Mr. Kambwili has also appointed newly elected Roan lawmaker Joseph Chishala as the Member of the Central Committee in charge of labour. Jackson Kaonga has moved to Agriculture from Tourism.

Professor Muyenga Attanga has also been moved from Higher Education to Mines. Misheck Moyo has moved to Information and Broadcasting where as Saboi Imboela is now NDC Spokesperson.

And Mr. Kambwili says the NDC will not participate in the National dialogue process that opens next week.