The Launch Keynote Speech at the Launch of Women Vision 2020: More Women in Parliament; Support Article 47.2, Tuesday 19th May 2020 at the New Government Complex, Lusaka Zambia By Mrs Rosemary Lasty Chanda Mumbi

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The Launch Keynote Speech at the Launch of Women Vision 2020: More Women in Parliament; Support Article 47.2, Tuesday 19th May 2020 at the New Government Complex, Lusaka Zambia

By Mrs Rosemary Lasty Chanda Mumbi – Retired Provincial Education Officer Copperbelt Province, a teacher, hope, faith N’gombe. Founder of Women in Africa (ASAWA)

Members of The Diplomatic Corp,
United Nations (UN) family,
Leaders of Civil Society Organisations,
Members of The Press,
Ladies and Gentlemen,

ALLOW me to thank you most sincerely for coming to attenf this very historical media launch of “Women Vision 2020”

A vision ladies and gentlemen is a mental status, which reveals want you want to achieve.

You actually see this picture in your mind vividly from start to finish.

Therefore, for us women: Vision 2020: increasing women in Parliament, is a movement where we want to see gender equity and equality in all areas of national development in real terms.

During the struggle for our independence men and women fought side by side for what they believed was rightfully theirs. Unfortunately, after we attained Independence on Saturday 24th October 1964, women were marginalised.

This has been demonstrated by the number of women in decision making positions such as Parliament and Local Council’s.

Ladies and Gentlemen,

I think what was interesting is the fact that women from all over the world as far back as the 1970s recognized these injustices and this is why in 1975, they organised the first ever “Women’s World Conference” in Mexico, South America, whose focus was to deliberate on the marginalization of women and how these these injustices, could be brought to an end.

Zambia was ably represented by the late Mrs. Chibesa Kankasa, in her capacity as Chairperson of the United National Independence Party (UNIP) Women’s League.

The meeting brought to the attention of the Government not only the injustices of women were suffering but made suggestions of how these could be brought to an end, promote women’s rights and treat women as equal partners in development.

Since then, women have continued to fight for their rights.

Since then, several world conferences have been held to push Governments all over the world to make laws that would improve gender equality and equity.

However, I must say that there has been some progress made here in Zambia.

Some of the achievements made are archiving equal pay for equal work.

In Zambia, both men and women enjoy the same conditions of service including pensionable conditions of service, which was not the case before.

Further, the appointment of women to some key positions; Vice President, Inonge Mutukwa-Wina, Chief Justice, Justice Irene Chirwa-Mambilima, and an increase of the number of female Cabinet Ministers from one to ten (10) as cases in point.

Ladies and Gentlemen,

In 1977, Maputo, Mozambique, Zambia was one of the countries that signed a protocol that stated that by 2020, Zambia will have achieved 50/50 representation in our governance systems such as Parliament, Local Councils and all areas of development.

Sadly, in the year 2020, Zambia is still having less sixteeen percent (16%) of women’s representation in Parliament and eight percent (8%) in Local Government yet some of our law makers do not want to support the amendment in Bill 10.

“This is extremely serious”.

Let me remind all of the women in Zambia that this year 2020, in relation to the Maputo Declaration in Mozambique presents an opportunity for women to support the amendment to Article 47.2 of the current Republican Constitution.

Women, Youth and Persons Differently Abled (persons with disability) stand up and be counted!

The Amendment of Article 47:2 is a human rights issue!

Ladies and Gentlemen,

Let me emphasize that this is not politics, but our right as women, youths and persons Differently Abled.

We demand that our numbers must go up in all positions contributing to national development, including Parliament and Local Councils.

We have to ensure that all the barriers that have promoted the marginalization of women, youths and persons Differently abled, such as tradition, economic, social and legal are addressed.

This year, 2020, we can positively look forward to VICTORY, because, we serve a VICTORIOUS God.

In Chibemba they say: “Ukoboko Bapota Nangu Banyonga Ukukosele”.

Ladies and Gentlement,

What we are asking for is not impossible, other countries in Africa, have already done it. For instance, countries Rwanda, Uganda, South Africa are some of the examples that come to mind.

Rwanda, which came out of a terrible destructive genocide is one country that has led the way in achieving gender equity and equality.

How can Zambia, which has enjoyed peace for the last 56 years, where women and men fought side by side be left behind.

Rwanda has recorded a fifty-two percent (52%) per cent of women in their Parliament and in Local Councils.

Rwanda is the cleanest country in Africa with a beautifully organized environment because they have involved everyone in their governance systems.

What about Zambia?

My belief is that Zambia can do it too.

If Rwanda did it, South Africa did it, Uganda did it, why can’t we did it?

The time is NOW! Amendment to Article 47.2, in the current bill is our only hope.

If this Article, is amended to change the electoral system from the First Past The Post (FPTP) to a Mixed Member System.

Cabinet proposes to provide representation of women, youth and differently abled persons in Parliament and Local Councils, and therefore, will propose the adoption of this Amendment.

This article if adopted, is the only chance and only window that will give more Women, Youths and Persons Differently Abled, a chance to get into Parliament and Local Councils.

By this Mixed Member system, women can hope for safe seats.

Not only women but also Young People, and Persons Differently Abled.

The Time is Now to push this agenda to action in all our districts and provinces. This is our battle now, we are calling on all the women to the battle field!

For most women, this must be a personal battle. Let me share one of my own stories.

In 1960, after I had passed Form Five (Grade 12), and one of the distinctions I had was in Art, in which I had won a lot of competitions at school.

My desire was to do Fine Art at the University of Makerere in Uganda, the only available University in Africa that was then specialised in fine art.

There was a Government Scholarship, for which I applied along with my male colleagues.

The answer came fast, and it was a Big No, because no African woman had ever done this category.

So, I went to my second choice, which was teaching at the Teacher Training College at Chalimbana, in Lusaka District.

Success was sweet as it came after three and a half years.

I was appointed to teach at the new girls secondary school in Kasama, Northern Province, in January 1964.

I was the first Zambian woman at that school.

The following year in 1965, there was an advertisement for Young Zambian’s with with O Level Examination Results to train as pilots for Zambia Airways, and I applied.

The answer came fast, and it was ‘sorry’ women are not accepted.

All my life, I have had to prove that I am just as good as all my male counterparts.

Ladies and Gentlemen,

We have to liberate our daughters, granddaughters and great granddaughters from this injustice, marginalization and slavery.

This is only possible if we support the proposed amendment of Article 47.2 of the Zambian Constitution.

I want to repeat, it is the only window for us to achieve the 50/50 gender equality and equity.

I urge all women, young and old, youths and differently abled persons to rise with courage, vigour and encourage our Members of Parliament (MPs) to prayerfully amend Article 47.2 and adopt this Article in Zambia’s Republican Constitution.

Let me conclude by saying saying: “All those who will not support the amendment of Article 47.2 are enemies of women youth and differently abled persons.

We are the majority and remember, the race to Manda Hill will be soon.

As the Bemba saying or parlance of old goes: “Mayo Mpapa, Naine kaku Mpapa”.

I rest my case and thank you all for listening patiently.

Thank you for your attention!

1. By Mrs Rosemary Lasty Chanda Mumbi – Retired Provincial Education Officer Copperbelt Province, a teacher, hope, faith N’gombe. Founder of Women in Africa (ASAWA)
   

   Women in Africa (ASAWA) founder
   Mrs. Rosemary Lasty Chanda Mumbi, a Retired Copperbelt Province
   Provincial Education Officer (left) with Mrs Agnes Ng’andu from the Central Province at Government Complex, on Tuesday 19th May 2020 after launching Zambia’s Women Vision 2020: More Women in Parliament; Support Article 47.2 – Picture by Kwilanzi News Zambia www.rainbownewszambia.com +260 977 199 447/ +260955199447/+260969964499 & +260211266789 derricksinjela@gmail.com, sinjela@yahoo.com & rainbownewszambia2012@gmail.com