NEWSLINE

By Christopher Chisi Luangwa District Administrative Officer, Daisy Phiri has commended Women and Law in Southern Africa (WLSA) for promoting Gender issues, in particular women participation in leadership and decision making positions in the area. Speaking when WLSA officials led by Organisation Legal Assistant, Sombo Masuwa paid a courtesy call on her at her office on Monday (25 January 2021) , Ms Phiri noted that WLSA has done well in advocating for women participation in decision-making positions as well as imparting knowledge in communities on the dangers of GBV. She said people are now appreciating the services which WLSA is providing in the area.  The DAO added that because of its works, WLSA has become one of the key partners in development for the district and has since encouraged the organisation to continue sensitising people on GBV and issues of women's and children's rights. "We are very lucky the way you [WLSA] have worked with us in the community. People here

Women taking the mantle of leadership in politics. "The [PF] party was looking for a female candidate to contest for the Phwazi Ward here in Feira Constituency during the  2016 general elections. A lot of women who were approached in this area refused to be adopted because they did not have the necessary academic qualifications, which is the Grade 12 school certificate. And that is how I was approached to contest .... .Of course, I had my Grade 12 school certificate and by then I was working as a Community Health Worker at the local clinic. But I also refused because I thought I was not going to manage to speak for the people if I was to be elected as a councillor and generally I did not have interest in politics," recalled Catherine Phiri who is re-contesting her seat as Phwazi Ward  Councilor on 12 August this year." "As if that was not enough, many people objected that I could not stand as a councillor because I was not married and it is against our tradition. It

In its quest to empower people with information on Gender-Based Violence (GBV) and the deadly coronavirus pandemic, Women and Law in Southern Africa with support from Equality Now has gone flat out conducting a series of engagement meetings with various stakeholders in Luangwa District of Lusaka Province. The meetings which were held in Yapite, Chiliwa Navedo and Nyakwindi villages and the Council Chambers were aimed at sensitizing people on the dangers of the Corona Virus and the scourge of GBV in a bid to supplement the government's efforts in fighting the two issues at hand. More than 150 children and 300 hundred adults were reached out during the meetings which were conducted in form of focus group discussions, Radio Programs and Drama performances with community members, traditional leaders, the media and duty bearers among other stakeholders. On Gender-Based Violence, it was revealed that like in other areas, there has been an exponential increase in cases of GBV in these vil

"I was jailed in 1999  for raping an 18-year-old woman," recalled Moses Tembo who is now a reformed character, residing in Luangwa district of Lusaka province. In Zambia, rape carries a  minimum of 15 years and a maximum of life imprisonment. Moses who at the time of the offence was 36 years old narrated that, "I proposed to the woman who after she accepted we went for a drinking spree and later I forced  myself on her." He said later the victim [of rape case] reported him to the police and the matter was taken to courts of law on the final determination of the matter he was found guilty and was imprisoned for 5 years.  Moses who has now ventured into farming regrets that although he had only one child when he was imprisoned, life for his family was not easy after he was jailed as there was no one to provide for them. From the time he was released from the prison, he said he has not only learnt lessons but also reformed and has been sensitising other men in the comm