Women In Politics Running For Top Office:
Gender & Development Emerging Challenges & Opportunities
Presented to The UNDP Lecture Series
Helmsley Hotel, New York, November 18, 2009
OPPORTUNITIES
Some of the opportunities or circumstances that
propel and facilitate Women’s participation and
running for higher offices are; enabling environments
in the home, family, community and nation. Growing up
with boys in childhood is the beginning of the acquisition
of skills for competition. Access to education and completing
higher education are important factors. The gender views
and treatment of children by the parents and family members
make a mark on the future of girls and their endeavours
in public life.
Girls’ Schools and Boarding Schools in particular
are a positive training ground and preparation for girls.
Girls compete with other girls without society and cultural
prejudices. Girls have opportunities to excel academically,
in practical subjects, in sports and recreational activities.
All these are essential to cultivate self confidence for
participation in public affairs and running for top offices.
Role models in the family, community, nation and elsewhere
are helpful in shaping the future plans of girls.
Growing up in political and/or high economic classes are
opportunities that should not be dismissed as necessarily
nepotism or other vices. The main benefit from such families
is instilled self confidence, access to education, training
for leadership, and, in some cases, economic power. Networking
and exposure through travel and meeting a cross section
of people happens more in these families. All these are
essential to participating in public affairs and running
for top offices.
CHALLENGES
Women in general and with emphasis on Zambia and other
African countries face many challenges. Among these are;
negative and discriminating perceptions through some traditional
practices, the media, school reading and learning materials
and literature in general. Heavy workloads, less or no
education, poverty, limited or no access to wealth and
finances, colonial African life tended to isolate women
and prevented them their traditional networking and Women
Empowerment practices.
Contemporary African life has tended to increase the disadvantages
of women by adding western negatives to the harmful traditional
practices.
The African women in general have become overloaded and
isolated to the extent where they have little time for
self-improvement and development.
SOME POSITIVE AFRICAN TRADITIONAL PRACTICES
Team and networking were among the most positive aspects
for women. Working in groups availed learning and exchanges
from others. Counselling and learning for younger women
and the girl child were important aspects of these practices.
Communal work lessened individual burdens and seasonal
work provided periods of light work schedules which availed
time for folk literature such as storytelling and other
recreational activities.
Community events such as births, marriages, funerals put
women in positions of leadership. Women led these events,
told men what to do, when and where. Women also provided
continuity from generation to generation. Older women
were generally viewed as wise and, often consulted and
participated in decision making.
My running for high offices has benefitted from the positive
traditional practices, family background and education
from a Girls Boarding School, Role Models and spirituality.
BACKGROUND
My personal story in politics starts with the fact that
I was born in a political family therefore had the training
and preparation without realizing so. In my early teens,
I decided, with strong conviction, that I wanted no such
life. My view of political life at the time was a thankless
job, day and night work, a house full of people all day
and most nights. Often, my siblings and I had to vacate
rooms and bed/s at awkward hours of the night as people
came. Not infrequently, the food prepared for the family
was given to visitors and we had to re-start cooking or
scrounge around for leftovers. It was a life full of giving
and being deprived.
The only exciting part of this political atmosphere was
listening to local and international news. From an early
age, we all had to listen to news and had to be silent
at such time. This quickly became a way of life that is
still a strong part of my life, which I have instilled
in my children and, try to with my grand children.
Other important aspects of this life that have shaped
me are sharing, and giving to the needy and advocating
for the marginalized people.
My father was a social worker who became a politician.
My mother was a teacher and community activist. Both my
parents served people continuously. They took the homeless
in our home, paid school fees for children who could not
afford to and took care of many people.
When the need arose for political change in Zambia, I
found myself at the deep end of politics. So were some
of the ‘children’ of the founding parents
of the nation of Zambia.
I was brought up as a human being with lots of self-confidence.
Therefore, I campaigned as a person, a human being, not
as a woman. However, I was often reminded of my gender
on the campaign trail and in Parliament.
Remarks were often made that I am as good as a man or
like my father or I should have been a man, too good to
be a woman and the like.
I successfully ran 3 times for the Zambian Parliament
and all three times defeated several men with unforgettable
majority votes.
SURPRISES
Some surprises are helpful in political moves and campaigns.
The competitors need not know every detail of one’s’
plans, strategies and technics.
The biggest surprise in my political career was not planned
but super effectively dislodged my opponents most likely
emotionally or in the mind.
The 1996 By Election was called while I was in South America
much to the delight of my 4 male opponents. The people
I represented organized themselves and called me to return
immediately. I arrived the night before the filing of
nominations. My campaign team and I showed up, uniformed
in yellow attire the next morning and our opponents were
shocked into defeat.
REASONS FOR RUNNING
My main reasons for running were to champion the causes
and advocate for the poor and, marginalized; children
and women, those with disabilities, the aged, etc. I also
had a passion to change Government spending so that more
funds are allocated to basic services such as clean and
safe drinking water, health, education, children and other
needy groups.
In my first weeks in Parliament, there were always jokes,
shouts and jeering, “children and women”.
This changed when I organized with some UN Agencies seminars
for both men and women Members of Parliament on Children,
Women, Gender Analysis and Education. We shared statistics
and research findings to the Honourable Members. Pretty
soon, some male MPs were competing to be the experts and
champions of these groups.
By the second year in Parliament, hardly anyone moved
when I rose to speak, some Hon. Members even took out
notebooks to jot my points.
I also initiated the establishment of a Women’s
Parliament Caucus. This group was the first to receive
computer training before the majority of the Hon members
were computer literate. We also provided a well-furnished
room for the Women’s Caucus in the Parliament Building.
This was quickly taken over by some ‘titled’
male by dubious means.
I used my strongest assets and strengths for the campaign;
my mouth; through speaking and discussions, knowledge
of the Rural people and their needs was also useful. Also
useful was my knowledge of several Zambian languages and
some traditional Proverbs (idioms). I was well hooked
with the people and not many, particularly the other gender
could dislocate me.
My Campaign issues were basic services with an emphasis
on what the people could do for themselves
I utilized traditional channels of communications and
worked with volunteers. The male youth were the scouts
and advance party to meeting places. The distances in
rural areas are vast and our campaigns involved a lot
of walking. The male youths did the cooking as well as
collected water, firewood, etc. I gave no money nor bribes
but our campaigners were well fed.
We put our allies to work capitalizing on their expertise,
knowledge of the people and areas. We relied on the elders
for advice, guidance and their own way of campaigning.
The professionals; nurses and teachers, were also put
to good use in their spheres of influence. We worked with
a cross section of people and sectors.
My Campaign was supported by men, women, youth and children.
The children were always intrigued and sang my campaign
songs. They often composed new songs. These songs spread
the messages and added to the success and winning.
RUNNING FOR PRESIDENT
Running for President was from the heart and strong sense
of calling. Their was much talk and debate about the need
for leaders of integrity. So I joined the race to meet
the expectations.
In 1991, when I ran for Parliament, the campaign was issue
oriented and I ran with hardly a budget. By 2001, the
campaign was more money oriented and I discovered to my
surprise, that most people did not vote for people of
integrity. They preferred people who gave them money,
gifts and alcohol. It seemed to me that they wanted leaders
of integrity but voted for those who bribed them to meet
the immediate needs.
I carried out an issue oriented campaign utilizing speaking
and discussions as main campaign tools. I lost badly but
enjoyed the campaign. I learned a lot from the people
and my life was enriched.
THE WOMEN’S MOVEMENT
The Women’s Movement support in my Presidential
campaign in 2001 was next to nil. The outspoken feminists,
gender advocates and the like put on the ‘Non-partisan
Cloth’ and refused to offer any form of support.
They even refused my requests for their teenage daughters
and sons to help type, distribute letters and put up posters.
However, there were a few like Ms. Sarah Longwe who rendered
unwavering support publicly. Some female youth also stood
up to be counted. For the campaign for the African Union,
I am indebted to the Hon. Gertrude Mongella, the President
of the African Parliament, Mrs. Mary Okello and the others.
It was a shock to see how many women advocates put their
Regional groups and colonial connection alliances before
gender and qualifications.
On the whole, it was the men folk, including my brother
politician who were the prime movers of my campaign.
Finances, transport and equipment were the biggest challenges
and barriers. Women in business were nowhere to be seen.
The male business did not find my agenda attractive. They
saw no benefits in Basic Service, power to the people
advocacy for the marginalized people.
There was a great difference in the treatment of a female
presidential candidate and a male. For a male, the males
surround the candidate and treat him as a president. This
has a psychological effect on the population and sets
the tone for the rest of the people.
For me, as a female presidential candidate, I was left
mostly alone doing several chores which I had never done
in my life, such as typing and other secretarial duties,
organizing events for the party was also left to me.
RUNNING FOR CHAIRPERSON OF THE AFRICAN UNION
Running for the Chairperson of the African Union was different.
It was by Presidential decree and the campaign managed
by the Government of the Republic of Zambia.
Almost the whole of Zambia was excited; women, young and
old. The first Zambian President joined the campaign and
gave it high priority. I received excellent support from
the government and people of Zambia. Zambia put up an
unprecedented campaign well supported by the people.
However, it would appear that the voting and selection
had little to do with relevant qualifications. The African
Union is committed to rotation and it was the turn for
Southern Africa. It appears that this was ignored.
After I lost, some people changed the Zambian Campaign
to Inonge’s campaign, an attempt to disown the effort.
Nevertheless, I thoroughly enjoyed the campaign. It was
great to be back on the African Continent after a 5 year
absence while serving as Ambassador to the United States.
H.E. Dr. Inonge Mbikusita-Lewanika
Ambassador Of The Republic of Zambia
To The United States Of America
