STOP THE INJUSTICE TOWARDS DEFENCELESS WOMEN – KATEKA
21st November 2023
New Heritage Party President Chishala Kateka says the UPND government’s injustice towards defenceless women should stop.
Ms Kateka stressed that such actions that pressure women into wrongdoing, are unacceptable and create fear for those in the public service, when they are being intimidated into submission. She was speaking at a press conference organized by women of opposition political parties at the New Heritage Party Secretariat in Lusaka this morning.
She specifically raised issue with the recent questionable removal from office, of the former DPP Lillian Shawa Siyuni and the recently ‘surrendered’ Registrar of Societies Mrs Thandiwe Phiri Mhende, complaining that this was an unfair treatment of women.
“What was the woman supposed to do in that position?” She quipped, referring to a subpoena that was issued to the former Registrar of Societies, “should she have sat on that information? Or listen to her bosses?”
“Where is the justice in what has been done to that poor woman?” She pointed out that the effect of that injustice, has Mrs Mhende’s career disrupted. Mrs Mhende was fired after obeying a subpoena to produce opposition Patriotic Front party’s current office bearers registered with the Registrar of Societies.
Ms Kateka’s concern is that these actions by the UPND government will erode people’s confidence in the system when government employees fail to do the right thing for fear of being fired or mistreated.
“What message are you sending to other government workers? Don’t do what is right?” She asked. “You are putting fear in the public service.
“It is not right to use a whole system to fight a young lady who cannot fight against you.”
Ms Kateka encouraged fellow women to stand up to such mistreatment of women and urged fellow women to join in solidarity. “This is something that women need to take up. What are we saying? Why are we quiet? We need to speak up for those amongst ourselves who are being downtrodden. It is not right.” She said.
The women from opposition political parties were compelled to speak out against several events that have irked the public including the ongoing issue with the Speaker of the National Assembly, Ms Nelly Mutti, the detention of Mumbi Phiri, the firing of the DPP and the Registrar of Societies among other concerns.
NHP MEDIA TEAM