In 2001, then Zambia’s governing Movement for Multi-party Democracy (MMD) suffered a setback when senior members bolted to create the Forum for Democracy and Development (FDD). The group was vehemently opposing President Frederick Chiluba’s bid for a third term in office, which move hit a brick wall. Zambia’s only woman presidential contender in the 2016 General Election, Edith Nawakwi, was one of those ‘radical progressives’.
Her political journey
Nawakwi’s political career spans more than 20 years. The 56-year-old economist and farmer joined MMD, which formed the government in 1991 in a multiparty election, and went on to serve in various portfolios, including as first woman finance minister. Famed for her tough-talking, Nawakwi is sticking out like a sore thumb in the country’s male-dominated field.
When her party was formed in 2001, it nominated Gen (Rtd) Christon Tembo, as its presidential candidate. Gen Tembo (deceased) finished third in a field of 11 candidates with 13 per cent of the vote. In Zambia’s national assembly elections, the party garnered 16 per cent of the vote, winning 12 seats.
However, in the just ended parliament, the party had only one member. Nawakwi became the FDD leader in 2005, after serving as the party’s secretary-general and vice-president.
In 2006, the party almost went into extinction when the registrar of societies struck it and 10 other political formations off the register for non-submission of annual returns. To keep its head above the waters, the opposition party backed the United Party for National Development (UPND) leader, Mr Hakainde Hichilema, now main contender, under a coalition called the United Democratic Alliance. Mr Hichilema finished third with 25 per cent vote.
FDD did not nominate a candidate for the 2008 presidential by-election caused by the death of Levy Mwanawasa, but put forward Nawakwi for the 2011 contest. She received 0.2 per cent vote, finishing seventh out of the nine candidates.
Nawakwi, popularly referred to as Mayo [mother] ran for the presidency in last year’s by- election necessitated by Michael Sata’s death, finishing third with 0.9 per cent vote. However, her path to the presidency was already beaten by two women earlier; Inonge Mbikusita Lewanika and Gwendoline Koni in 2001.
But this time around, Nawakwi is bubbling with confidence that she was about to “break the glass ceiling”. “It’s not about women leadership,” she says. “Most people recognise that this country needs serious leadership. Zambia get ready because we are putting on the overalls. Not to fight anyone, but to work.”
Political commentators have questioned her readiness for the election, given her outfit was no longer as robust as it was when it was formed. But Nawakwi feels otherwise. “We have always been ready. We shall win this election because we have travelled this country far and wide. We [FDD] understand the interests of the poor, especially those in rural areas. Our chances are getting brighter and brighter. “Those underestimating us will be shocked,” she said outside her party’s secretariat in Lusaka’s Rhodes Park area.
Campaign strategy
Nawakwi’s tenacity and consistence in running an opposition party are admirable. She speaks strongly against what she calls “the elite exploiting the poor”. The opposition leader is associated with door-to-door style of campaign, where she prefers meeting small groups of people, compared to huge crowds that her opponents were pulling. For her, that was a mistaken strategy.
Treading the gender line
Nawakwi has been careful not to play the gender card in this campaign. Her campaign posters aptly say vote for the champion of agriculture. She has been shown in the media meeting groups of women and donating chicks as part of their starter-up capital for their businesses. “Agriculture has potential to change the face of poverty,” she says, insisting that robust agriculture and decentralisation is what will get this country out of the abyss of poverty.
wAbout Nawakwi’s chances, election expert Mcdonald Chipenzi, says; “Her performance may not be as strong, but her participation in this election is going to greatly boost the image of her party in the coming elections. That she’s the only female candidate in this election is demonstration that our politics is still highly patriarchal.”
Conversely, voting for a woman as Zambia’s seventh president could be change in more ways than one. Ms Nawakwi was going in to the election amidst concerns of violence perpetrated by two main parties steered by men. After her candidate was beaten, sustaining a broken arm south of the country, Nawakwi demanded a ban on the governing PF and UPND, the two parties alleged to be at the centre of violence, but to no avail. The opposition leader was likely to play as an “axis of victory’” should the country’s poll go into the second round.
However, as they say; if there was such a thing as “political justice”, Nawakwi would be the one to claw power out of the hands of the menfolk on grounds of her political experience and admirable curriculum vitae.
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