‘UPND denied me adoption in 2016’

“I WAS denied adoption for the Sioma Parliamentary seat in the 2016 general elections by the United Party for National Development (UPND) because I am a woman, and still young, says Sioma Member of Parliament Mbololwa Subulwa.

She said she was told she needed to give chance to someone else as she was a woman and still young.

Ms Subulwa who is the only female MP in Western Province and the youngest Parliamentarian, explained that during the last general elections, she applied to UPND for adoption in Sioma Constituency and was given an adoption letter.

She however, said she was shocked when she learnt that a male candidate had also been given an adoption letter by the party.

She recalled that although she was Sioma’s favourite candidate, she was dropped by UPND to give chance to the male candidate, because she was a woman and still young.

Ms Subulwa disclosed this during the International Women Day dialogue and engagement forum which was organised by the Zambia National Women’s Lobby (ZNWL) in Lusaka yesterday.

The MP said despite being dropped by the UPND, she did not lose confidence in herself, instead with the help of the community; she stood as an Independent candidate and won the seat.

“During the 2016 general elections, my desire was to stand on the UPND ticket, so I applied and luckily I as picked and given an adoption letter. But to my surprise, a male candidate was also picked by the party and on the day of filling-in nominations it was a struggle, I was told to step down and give chance to the male candidate, they told me that I was still young and I had time.

“The people of Sioma wanted me to stand because I was there preferred candidate, so they encouraged me to stand as independent which I did and won,” Ms Sibulwa said.

Speaking at the same event, Ministry of Gender Permanent Secretary Auxilia Ponga challenged women in decision making to advocate gender equality if Zambia was to attain the 50-50 gender parity by 2030.

Ms Ponga said women in influential positions had the power to turn around the story of gender inequalities in the country.

“Women in decision making have a huge role to play in as far as attainment of the 50-50 gender parity by 2030 is concerned because they have the power to influence change,” Ms Ponga said.

Meanwhile, commenting on this year’s International Women’s Day theme: ‘Think Equal, Build Smart, Innovate for Change,’ ZNWL Lusaka Board member Sylvia Nyambe said the theme called for active participation of more women in Technology.

“Women should be among the top people who create technology,” she said.