Jenala Tembo-Kafwamba

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THE NATION MOURNS THE SIXTH PRESIDENT OF THE REPUBLIC OF ZAMBIA, HIS EXCELLENCY DR. EDGAR CHAGWA LUNGU.

IT IS WITH DEEP SORROW AND A HEAVY HEART THAT WE HAVE BEEN INFORMED BY HIS FAMILY, OF THE PASSING ON, OF THE SIXTH PRESIDENT OF THE REPUBLIC OF ZAMBIA, HIS EXCELLENCY MR. EDGAR CHAGWA LUNGU.

WE THEREFORE WISH TO OFFICIALLY INFORM THE NATION OF THIS SAD DEVELOPMENT AND EXTEND OUR HEARTFELT CONDOLENCES TO HIS WIDOW, THE SIXTH FIRST LADY, MADAM ESTHER LUNGU, THE ENTIRE LUNGU FAMILY, THE PATRIOTIC FRONT PARTY, AND THE PEOPLE OF ZAMBIA.

AS ZAMBIANS, AFRICANS, AND MORE SO AS CHRISTIANS, THIS MOMENT CALLS FOR SOLEMNITY, UNITY, LOVE AND COMPASSION.

AT SUCH TIMES WE MUST MOURN TOGETHER AS ONE PEOPLE, ABOVE POLITICAL AFFILIATION OR PERSONAL CONVICTION, AS WE HONOUR THE LIFE OF A MAN WHO ONCE HELD THE HIGHEST OFFICE IN OUR LAND.

IN THE SPIRIT OF PATRIOTISM AND NATIONAL SOLIDARITY, WE URGE ALL CITIZENS TO OFFER SUPPORT AND RESPECT TO THE BEREAVED FAMILY, AND TO UPHOLD THE VALUES OF PEACE, DIGNITY, AND TOGETHERNESS THAT DEFINE US AS ZAMBIANS.

ORIGINAL SIGNED,

HAKAINDE HICHILEMA
PRESIDENT OF THE REPUBLIC OF ZAMBIA

WHAT HAVE YOU HEARD ABOUT GENDER MAINSTREAMING?

This is a buzzword for development and gender experts. Of course, for some, it is a new concept; you may have come across it by chance, but what is this concept of gender mainstreaming?
Gender mainstreaming emerged as a global strategy for achieving gender equality during the Fourth World Conference on Women held in Beijing in 1995.

This approach was formally endorsed in the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action and has since become a guiding framework in development planning and policy. At its core, gender mainstreaming is about integrating a gender perspective into every stage of planning, decision-making, and implementation across all areas of development. Rather than simply increasing the number of women involved in projects, the goal is to ensure that the needs, experiences, and contributions of all women and men are taken into account from the outset.

This strategy involves a deliberate and systematic assessment of how proposed actions will affect both women and men. By doing so, it ensures that projects are not just inclusive on the surface but also equitable in practice so that inequalities are not reinforced.

Remember, gender mainstreaming is not the destination, but the pathway to gender equality.

Rethinking the Black Widow Narrative

I had watched the Black Widow movie, and it’s honestly one of my favourite movies. But until recently, I never really understood the deeper meaning behind the term Black Widow when it comes to real women involved in conflict.

The movie shows a strong woman challenging traditional ideas of femininity, and that really stuck with me.
In real life, Black Widow refers to women from Chechnya who had taken part in extreme acts during the conflict with Russia. They are called this because many lost their husbands or close family members, and the name also refers to the black widow spider, known for its lethal nature.

This nickname has shaped the popular story about these women, suggesting they act only out of personal grief.
But this view is too narrow. Women, like men, have complex reasons for joining movements such as political beliefs, resistance to unfair treatment, and a desire for justice.

Calling them Black Widows often ignores their individual choices and reduces their role to just victims or followers. It also supports old ideas that women are naturally gentle or emotional, rather than strong and capable of political action.
What’s important is that these women don’t just stand against their opponents; they challenge society’s ideas about what women are supposed to be. They show that femininity can include strength and courage, breaking stereotypes and changing traditional views

This has important implications for demobilization efforts. When women fighters are seen only as victims or forced participants, programmes that support their reintegration risk overlooking their agency, motivations, and unique needs. Understanding that these women are political actors with strong convictions helps design better support systems that respect their experiences and encourage lasting peace. Recognizing their roles fully is crucial to ensuring they can successfully transition to civilian life and avoid being marginalized after conflict.

, Peace, and Security (WPS) agenda Security Council Resolution 1325):

Your throne, O God will last for ever and ever; a scepter of justice will be the scepter of your kingdom

Psalm 45:6

This is what’s on my mind today 😊

Gender, Disability and occupational safety and health: Let’s Talk About the Overlap

Workplaces are often seen as spaces of productivity and progress but for many, they are also places where inequality, exclusion, and risk are embedded into daily experience. When we look at disability and occupational safety and health through a gendered lens, the picture becomes even more complex. Gender and disability are not isolated identities; they intersect in ways that deeply influence how individuals experience work, safety, and inclusion. Understanding this intersection is critical if we want to build more equitable and supportive working environments. It pushes us to move beyond medical definitions of disability and consider how social stigma, policy gaps, and occupational hazards create or worsen disabling conditions often disproportionately impacting women.

Feminism is about equality. Whether you are a woman or man, you can be a feminist

Congratulations to K***a Mwamulima- Miss Universe Zambia 2025

Tonight, we remember that even when everything seems lost, God is still at work behind the stone.

Hold on joy comes in the morning.