ZAMBIA-WOMEN: A HOUSE DIVIDED
LUSAKA, Dic 24 (IPS) - A WAR OF WORDS HAS ERUPTED IN ZAMBIA AFTER THE GOVERNMENT'S ONLY FEMALE MINISTER ACCUSED NON- GOVERNMENT ORGANISATIONS (NGOS) OF HIJACKING OFFICIAL PROGRAMMES FOR WOMEN.
"AS THE FIRST WOMAN CABINET MINISTER IN THE ZAMBIAN THIRD REPUBLIC, I WILL DECLARE THAT ZAMBIAN WOMEN DO NOT SUPPORT EACH OTHER AT ALL," SAID KABUNDA KAYONGO, COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT MINISTER.
SHE LASHED OUT AT THE NGOS SAYING THEY LACKED ORIGINAL IDEAS AND CONDEMNING THEM FOR JUMPING ON THE STATE'S INITIATIVES.
HER OUTBURST FOLLOWED A SPATE OF ARTICLES IN THE LOCAL PAPERS QUOTING WOMEN'S NGOS COMPLAINING ABOUT THE SOUTHERN AFRICAN GOVERNMENT'S CLEAR LACK OF GENDER POLICIES.
KAYONGO, INCENSED BY THE CRITICISM LEVELLED BY THE NGOS -- WHO ATTENDED THE FIFTH AFRICAN REGIONAL CONFERENCE ON WOMEN IN THE SENEGALESE CAPITAL OF DAKAR LAST MONTH -- THIS WEEK ISSUED FULL- PAGE STATEMENTS IN THE GOVERNMENT DAILIES CONDEMNING THE ORGANISATIONS.
"THEY HAVE HIJACKED GOVERNMENT PROGRAMMES AND ARE INSIDIOUSLY USING GOVERNMENT INSTITUTIONS TO ATTACK AND DEMEAN ITS ENDEAVOURS," SHE CHARGED.
IN A PAPER PRESENTED BY GLADYS MUTUKWA, CHAIRMAN OF THE NGO COORDINATING COMMITTEE (NGOCC), THE ORGANISATIONS CHARGED THAT THE GOVERNMENT LACKS "A MACHINERY FOR THE ADVANCEMENT OF WOMEN."
HOWEVER, KAYONGO COUNTERED THAT THE NGOS HAVE ALWAYS OPPOSED SUCH A MACHINERY SIMPLY BECAUSE IT WOULD BE INITIATED BY THE STATE.
"THE SAME WOMEN LEADERS WHO HAVE BEEN CALLING FOR THE CREATION OF SUCH A MECHANISM, VOCALLY OPPOSED THE CREATION OF A MINISTRY OF WOMEN'S AFFAIRS, OPTING INSTEAD FOR A DIRECTORATE IN THE OFFICE OF THE PRESIDENT WHICH IS NOW HEADED BY A MAN," SHE SAID.
BUT THE NGO LEADERS ARE ARGUING THAT A MINISTRY FOR WOMEN WOULD HAVE LED TO FURTHER MARGINALISATION OF WOMEN. THEY ALSO REJECT THE STATE'S IDEA THAT WOMEN'S AFFAIRS SHOULD FALL UNDER THE MINISTRY OF COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT AND SOCIAL SERVICES.
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