People Think I overtalk About God
I fear nothing – Chirwa
By Kombe Mataka
SOMETIMES people think I over talk about God, says Drug Enforcement Commission (DEC) director general Mary Chirwa.
“I have survived because I believe in God 101 per cent. I fear nothing in anything and everything that I do,” she says.
Speaking ahead of the 2021/2022 awards slated for May that were founded in honour of her fearless and courageous leadership while she served at Financial Intelligence Centre executive director, Chirwa said it was not easy to work in a ‘man’s’ world.
“Sometimes people think I over talk about God in my life. Some people tell me ‘you it’s always about God. Just tell us the real thing’. The thing is it is not easy being a woman and working in an environment where it’s like it’s a man’s world but at the end of the day when you embrace excellence in anything you do, there is nothing like I am a woman or this,” she said.
“I almost lost my job because for so many months no one even bothered to check whether my contract was reviewed or not but I didn’t care. What was the right thing to do at that particular time? What is illegal, you must expose it. So, for me whether you’re a lady, others have found their way up by sleeping with men and so forth, if you do not know God then you will succumb to such things. Yes, we (women) will always be looked at as weaker vessels because I believe we have this inner strength. If you live your purpose, there is nothing that you are going to fear really.”
Chirwa said she was always proud of the candidates that scooped the prize from the award attached to her name and works.
“I think it is a blessing because if you see the essence of that Award is to appreciate courageous and fearless leadership. I feel that leadership is for every stage and level in life, and from an individual you must lead yourself first before you can lead others,” she said.
“This is an Award that was created in 2019 and every year it is awarded to those who prove themselves to be courageous in their line of work as long as you stick to doing the right thing.”
Chirwa said she feared no one when it comes to uncovering wrongdoing.
She however said it has not been easy for her in trying to do the best in the course of duty.
“When you talk about courage in adversity usually it is because of circumstances around us. I have survived because I believe in God 101 per cent. I fear nothing in anything and everything that I do. So, regardless of the field, I will exhibit the same Mary,” she said.
“The Award has brought gratitude to what God has made me and how he has protected me throughout my work. Of course, working in my space has not been easy. I have been in this realm of financial investigations for more than 25 years and even when I was a junior officer, I would still face threats but I think I am resolved from the word go. And I will do the right thing for the betterment of the Zambian person who doesn’t have an opportunity to sit in my seat.”
And Chirwa said she has now settled in her new role at DEC, acknowledging that it is a huge task.
“In terms of the mandate they are both two independent institutions but DEC is a much bigger assignment. And I think it came at the right time because God wants me to fulfill something. DEC has a structure of 1,800 employees currently. The mandate is wider for DEC but DEC goes into investigations and preparations of dockets for matters to be presented before [National Prosecution Authority] NPA in readiness for the courts of law; it is two institutions in one,” Chirwa added.
“It superintendents over two pieces of legislation. The narcotic and psychotropic substance Act which deals with drug and substance abuse, and then you have the money laundering Act which looks at financial crimes. So, these are two things that the country is looking at. These are one of the major issues that we are looking at. You have heard that there are a lot of suicide cases. You have seen junkies on the roads, so it is a big responsibility for me but I am able.”
Introduced in 2019, The Mary Chirwa Award for Courageous Name, was designed to recognise women who have a proven record of courageous leadership in a field related to one or more of the Sustainable Development Goal(s). The winner is awarded US $5,000 for their cause and is invited to a ceremony at the Peace Palace, in The Hague, the Netherlands.