FORUM for Democracy and Development president Edith Nawakwi says she does not regret accepting President Sata’s invitation to travel with him to Brazil because her knowledge base has grown through interaction with delegates.
Ms Nawakwi, a graduate of economics of energy and development from the University of London Imperial College, thanked President Sata for the opportunity to travel with him to the Rio+20 UN Conference on Sustainable Development.
“We need to step out of our political cocoons and see what others are doing. If I didn’t come here, I would not have known which way the world is going in terms of sustainable development,” she said.
She said she would continue to play her part in seeing to it that sustainable development is enhanced in Zambia.
“I will criticise when that is due but we need a pool of knowledge to take the country forward. We can all contribute to national development in various ways,” she said.
Ms Nawakwi and National Restoration Party President Elias Chipimo Junior are part of the presidential delegation but have been criticised by fellow opposition leaders for accepting the invitation.
And Ms Nawakwi says African countries, including Zambia, should be more innovative in sourcing financing for the implementation of the green economy to enhance living standards and sustainable development.
Ms Nawakwi says resources might not always be forthcoming from the West and Africa needs to fill the financing gaps.
“The West does not owe us a living. We have to be creative and find money to make the objectives of Rio+20 a reality. Some of the resources have to be sourced internally. We have to improve living standards by making the environment safer,” she said in an interview yesterday.
She said the West is facing its own financial problems and it would not be realistic for Africa to depend on it for aid.
Rio+20, attended by at least 138 heads of State and government and over 50,000 delegates, has been tasked to make the world a better place for all in the next 20 years.
“This is a big task which calls for more innovation. I am hoping the financing gaps will not force Africa to go back on its commitment to give its citizens a better future,” she said.
On her experiences at the Rio+20 conference, the former minister of energy said the conference was an eye-opener and an enriching experience.
“I have a lot to take away from this conference. The experiences are very fulfilling. I am particularly happy that Africa was more united at this conference and some of the continent’s issues have been taken on board in the outcome document.
“Rio+20 is about making the world better in the next 20 years and I believe that is possible,” she said.
Ms Nawakwi said the world has recognised the African voice on climate change and sustainable development and that although some issues are still pending, she is happy with the compromises.
“This is about compromise. We may not get everything we want at a conference attended by over 130 countries but a policy direction and the economic agenda for the next 20 years has been set. That gives us hope,” she said.
She called for greater participation of women and youths in development to make Rio+20 a success.
“Women make up a huge percentage of the informal sector, particularly in agriculture, which is the world’s largest employer, so their concerns have to be taken into account,” she said.
She said Zambia and other African countries have to sort out energy problems to ensure more efficient and environmentally friendly energy use.
“We have to explore alternative sources of energy like solar and others to enhance access to energy. Alternative sources are much cheaper than electricity,”she said.
And on the efforts of Brazil towards a green economy, Ms Nawakwi said Zambia has a lot to learn from the impact of the South American country on the world.
“When we were discussing oil from grass in Zambia, Brazil was already making ethanol from sugar cane. That is the technology we have to adopt to survive. Brazil is a great inspiration,”she said.
She said over the years, countries like Brazil and India have managed to pull some of their people out of extreme poverty to middle-income citizens by taking deliberate efforts towards sustainable development.
“Brazil is a major bread basket of South America because of its commitment to a green economy. The country has graduated to one of the most powerful economies in the world,” Ms Nawakwi said.
[Zambia Daily Mail]
and when is sally mwamba thanking the president for taking her for window shoping as well?
As long as this working together is genuine, it’s a sign of democracy maturity. Opposition does not mean just opposing with your eyes shut. Oppose when you need to, agree when you need to. Good move Nawakwi and Chipimo, and the President himself
mwasosa. Muchiteni text HH
Nice, point my fellow Citizen..
Well spoken bro.
#2 Umuntuse totally agrre with you.
I guess HH still insist this is not a national issue….As Nawakwi said one need to learn… critism without knowledge is useless…
Good stuff Edith. Hats off to MCS as well. Let’s do what is good for our country.
This is what I call progressive opposition. As Zambians we need to foster togetherness and respect for each other first and opposition should only be meaningful and tangible. Opposing everything as some party has done is really against development as they are more keen to see the Government fail just to prove themselves right. In short, I congratulate Nawaki and Chipimo for taking the country first before their repective parties
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What else can you say Ba Nawakwi? Zambia is watching you and may be no wonder you have not made so much impact in the political arena at presidential level.
How can you come from the general elections without a single MP or Councillor? Surely that was a total rejection of you by the Zambian community and now you are saying you feel for HH for what? for not going to Brazil with Satan? It is you feel for as you have no representation apart from your self. I wish Tembo was alive-FDD is deadoooooo
stupid comment
Which former president did Sata acompany whilst in opposition.
What is your point??
There is nothing in itself in attending the forum on sustainable development. But what learns have your leant which are applicable to Zambia and what are the plans to help this govt start working on one of those? As usual it is just gratitude for being invited and the cash given for shoping at the expense of the poor tax payers who some of them do not even know how it feels to be by the door step of a plane.
This is actually a smart and intelligent woman who sould have been at the fore front of driving the Government Policy in this sector, but what politics can do is indeed mind bogling. She now really has to sink and reason at the level of cadres.
That is why a lot of us stay way from politics where there are just too many shallow and foolish people, who if you try to argue with them, will bring you down to their level and beat you with experience.
I think Edith needs to just get out of politics and get to doing what she is good at and what she was trained for. These are technocrats the country desperately needs and her being in politics is just leaving a void that, not only need to be filled , but also mentor the next generation.
You are right- misplaced priority is the issue here
Thanks Edith, thats the way forwad, am with u all the way.Constructive critisism .
Opposition means opposite.
Njala yaku nyokola Nawakwi?
So it is about individuals and personal gain and not about the collective good
Isn’t this the same lady who was verbally molested during the third term debate instigated by Michael Sata? Isn’t this lady who told the nation that the bush where she was hiding around mulungushi rock of authority was set ablaze by cadres sent by Michael Sata who was in full support of the third term? Where are your principles lady nawakwi?
In Zambia we don’t have enemies for life – no permanent enemies in Zambia – even hh and the president will soon be friends.
Poor countries like zambia where opposition leaders are full shit jealous cannever develop, better 2016 try a woman president, we can see how malawi is developing in the hands of a woman
How exactly is Malawi developing?
some examples!!!!! awe sure….spoil an otherwise good point.
you don’t have a brain.
#7 The Thinker. You are a fool.
Ka Nawakwi is an intelligent girl. Give her some job to do. She has the capacity to lead Zambia, but for our psyche. Our minds cabe. Where can we make use of such girls? Gwendoline was also sharp.
She is very sharp. Its a waste to see her consumed by stupid politics. She should have stayed out of it and concentrated on her expertise.
Nawakwi says she is a leader in the opposition. I wonder how many members she has in her party! Please lets be serious for once. The reason Sata invited Nawakwi and Chipimo is that he knew their parties were very weak and wanted to use them as a political gimmick. Where on earth can Sata accommodate other people’s views? You just need to see how he runs his government for you to know that he does not believe in consultation. So all this Brazil thing is a sham. It was not meant to benefit our country. Where are Nawakwi and Chipimo going to implement what they learned, because they are not in government. The trip was for window dressing only and a sheer waste of tax payers money. Please, stop taking people for granted.
proper ihule,at first she went with bwezani to the AU summit just after campaigning for him,after failing to get a job there after katampa insele,now with UKWA lets wait and see
Mulechitako contribute efyo abanenu ba nga chita learn something of significance. Efya buwelewele pe na pe, sorry William. Grow up.
I agree with you Bwalya. No permanent enemies. HH and Sata are friends. They will reconcile soon. Sata is not so difficult. I think HH also is a gentleman. He should begin to address some international fora like Sata at Oxford.
Thanks for the trip and the per diem, I also did some shopping.
It is really a good gesture…. keep it up ba Mikaili…
Countrymen, it is difficult to be a Statesman and do things like foreign travel, which all your predecessors were relentlessly criticised for. BUT once in power, we all look at things from a different angle – Rio was a good visit. Great beautiful city! Sadly, no one knew about ‘Brazilian Hair’. Now we know it’s all gong’a
Zambia shall be saved. huts off SATA !
Still gold digging? Useless opposition leaders.
Where is Nawaki going to implement what she learnt at this conference when she has no position in GRZ or civil service. Sata should have taken people who are charged with implementing this conference’s resolutions. Imagine how frustrating it is to be told to start implementing Rio resolutions when they left you behind and those who were there cannot be asked to do any of the work!
This woman Edith has never been genuine. She is a husband snatcher. What good can come out of her when she doesn’t respect other people’s marriages? She snatched Hamoong from his wife and today she want to talk as a champion. Zambians are very short memoried people and that is why our country hardly develops. Sata used to be very brutal, machetteing people, insulted every other person with divergient views and he single handedly taught Zambians to loose respect for one another and to insult anyone yet today he is calling for respect from others.Shameless Edith, Dr. Kaseba must be careful otherwise she may snatch the cobra from her.
Obviously, you’re insecure iwe. If you can’t keep your husband yours, then there’s something you are not doing right. Don’t expect other women to look after your marriage. that’s your responsibility. Was Hamoonga snatched at gun point? Probably all Nawakwi did to him was serve him warm meals , scrub his back and keep herself clean at all times. Its that simple. No rocket science involved.
edith is an ***** just a chancer and if you all had any brains she also escorted your dear enemy RB to some conference she ws happy for us tax payers to support her.
Statistics for everyone to learn. Together we stand divided we fall.
UPND: 26.76% – 25.32%,- 19.70% – 18.17%
MMD: 28.69% – 42.98% – 40.09% – 35.42%
PF: 3.35% – 29.37% – 38.13% – 41.98%
I feel sad when i run through some of these comments and on wonders whether opposition is always about criticism!! I really wonder where our politics is taking Zambia and I am having problems whether we have anyone (among the current party presidents) with a heart for the people as it looks like each one of them has some selfish marks behind. I hope those vying for the presidence can notice that we are tired of illogical politics. They should also realise the fact that behind every intelligent person, there is someone more intelligent than him/her.
ITS DON.CHI KUBEBA CHABE
NICE MOVE BA SATA
YOU ARE DOING THE RIGHT BY INVITING PEOPLE WITH EXPERIENCE IN THOZ FIELDS
LIKE Ms NAWAKWI
YOU ARE A TRU
Its a good move Mr President, l just hope its not the saying of “keeping ones enemy close“
Any one who has been to school can say what she has said. She has just reminded me of the time she was beaten by her former boy friend while she was minister of Energy.
And that’s because you are the type that beats up women.
@16Chimbwi with a plan, you are attacking the intellectual with deep reflections, yourself with your empty stomack backing compliance, stupidity, corruption of mind and poverty of thought ever on earth. Nawakwi and Chipimo are in for there selfish business with Sata watch the space before u pollute the site with your obscene language
The country will only move forward if the opposition parties start compromizing with ruling party on issues of national interest. Good gesture HE president Sata, Nawakwi and chipimo. Zambia needs selfless leaders to serve the nation
If Zambia needs them why where they rejected through the barrot? What exactly do you mean by saying Zambian needs? To prove it Zambians rejected even those that stood on their party tickets so what is your story sir/madam?
Well done nawakwi
No mention of the taxpayer who footed the bill?
Mrs Mwamba did not finnish her ‘Marcopolo orders’, so government will have to fund another trip for her in the near future so she can go and complete this noble business.
It’s good to involve the opposition in National issues but Chipimo & Nawakwi are not a good representation of the opposition in Zambia. How many councillors or MPs do they have?They were just used as a ploy by Sata to hoodwick unsuspecting people that he is ready to work with the opposition when the truth is that he is NOT. If Sata wanted to work with the opposition he could have publicly asked the two main opposition parties(MMD & UPND) to nominate a representative to accompany him to Rio. Selecting some tribally connected opposition leaders who Sata has been secretly using to undermine the oppostion is deception of the worst order and a misuse of public funds. We wouldn’t complain if Sata was using his own money to pay for their expense. We are not stupid to fall for such gimmicks
walaasa, this is the most important point of all
Have you just woke up from a coma? don’t delude yourself, can you honestly work with likes HH, he would have turned down any invitation as its of no importance to him and his voters as he clearly stated!!
Well spoken Zed Patriot. Our President Sata did not use any promotional representation in picking which opposition party to invite. It therefore stands to reason that he was simply doing some political posturing for personal gain as usual, nothing more, nothing less. What’s annoying is that he used tax payers money which could have been used in needy areas. This is misbuse of public funds.
“Coming together is a beginning; keeping together is progress; working together is success.”
Henry Ford
Sata can invite Mama Chikamoneka, Alice Lenshina, Kankasa or even Chimbwi or Jongwe! It is hisa cozy-cozy with the radioactive Sekuru Mugabe that will destroy this country. By his own admission, we are beggers, so why does he want to antagonize donors by fratenizing with Mugabe? When was the last time he ventured into Falls Town? Is that what jhe wants Livingstone to look like? The giagantic brazen stupidity characteristic of this man defies all manner of reason!
Edith Nawakwi once told a huge addressed by RB that CNP does not concentrate in any meetings,that he was incapable of listening to any person addressing him, that he would pace around impatiently waiting to talk. That Ukwa can never rule. My humble question to Edith now is: What has changed about Ukwa today in Rio? Looking at Edith’s pictures in Brazil, one gets a feeling that she’s very embarrased to be part of the entourage but, at the same time selfishly incapable of turning down an oportunity of sight seing Rio. This woman has finally gone to bed with all the politicians around, loose husbands inclusive.
Don’t be a woman-basher iwe chikamba. You keep on degrading women because that’s all your ka small mind can do. Critise her on her expertise. You’re making some very foolish allegations that you can’t prove. Its all in your perveted mind.
@ 39 Maxwell : It seems like your understanding of politics is shallow. Even if HH siad no at least Sata would have demonstrated that he was willing to work with the opposition. Maybe HH or Mumba would have nominated a technocrate within their parties to join the president. Alternatively Sata could have asked Miyanda or Milupi to join him, even if they are one man parties, like Nawakwi in Chipimo, at least he would have sent a message that he is willing to work with Zambians across all tribes. Sata is polarising the nation by leaning soo much to his tribesmate(or affiliated tribes). He is systematically killing the spirit of one Zambia one nation. Tribalism is in Sata’s genes and every well meaning Zambian, including our bemba colleagues, should advise this man to tone down his tribalism.
What my post got to do with that..please do confuse me with someone else…
What my post got to do with that..please DON’T confuse me with someone else…
free flight, foos hotel, damn right VIVA BaSata
I think it’s time the PF government started tangible developmental programmes and shun the RB style of development right before elections. It’s about damn time!
The president has done well to start working with progressive opposition leaders like Nawakwi and Chipimo. These two have no bitterness and there main interest is to see people’s lives improve/ MC should ignore HH who has been in a pact with literary every political party in Zambia. He has no direction apart. His goal is simply to make Sata fail at whatever cost. He is the real Chimbwi no plan
You all think this move has been made by sata without backyard intentions… Observe as time goes by… I l remind you all of this day when that event starts, especially from that president of ours… It s what you think of his intentions that s good to you, but are those the real intentions? I doubt it, looking from the past…
Well spoken #38 Zed Patriot. Our President Sata did not use any promotional representation in picking which opposition party to invite. It therefore stands to reason that he was simply doing some political posturing for personal gain as usual, nothing more, nothing less. What’s annoying is that he used tax payers money which could have been used in needy areas. This is abuse of public funds.
When an old lion is hungry it eats grass
COULD HAVE INVITED GEN. MIYANDA TO ACCOMPANY HIM TO RIO.
Nawakwi still looks beautiful and sexy:x
She might be looking for a srew, no wonder she accepted the invitation
Nawakwi and Carringtone maize scandal. Some people should be erased from the politics of Zambia.
POLITICS YA NJALA.!
What party is this FDD who are their members please do enlighten do they have any MPs
Nawakwi is nothing but a shameless Tasintha No Plan. She inherited her party from mwana wa kwitu Gen Tembo (MHSRIP) full of MPs but she has today amanged to shed all MPs leaving her party with zero representation in parliament. Chipimo has zero MPs too, then one wonders what manner of opposition is Chimbwi Ukwa No Plan so called incorporated in his Rio trip? To me, it was nothing but a stinking Northern tribal charade he staged.
To you? And who the f*ck cares about what you think, if you even do? They have at least stood up for what they believe in and what have you done? Shut up ,Coward. Nobody is listening.
Nawakwi is a muselela kwakaba! Shame on you! Husband snatcher!
Nawakwi has to be very dull for a graduate to say by going to Rio she has learnt a lot – Guess if you asked students @ UNZA, they will probably have more ideas & sense without ever having been to Rio – Simple Research & the Internet will inform one, more than she claims. The one thing we can all agree on, is that she is indeed right to be thanking Sata for a freebie of a trip!!!
Sata needs to be reminded that just becoz he is presido, doesn’t mean he’s not accountable! He SHOULD ACCOUNT FOR EACH & EVERY ACTION! Nawakwi has NO POLITICAL BASE, so who was she representing?? This was an Environmental Summit, so technocrats & Environmental Institutional representatives were more appropriate, NOT POLITICIANS!!!!
This was no social gathering – ok to invite them to barbecues etc!!!
Nawakwi described Hichilema as a kadansa and that he has run down the once vibrant UPND Nawakwi said it was regrettable that Hichilema launched a personal attack on her and Elias Chipimo Jr, accusing them of failing to run their political parties when there was evidence to show that Hichilema had rundown the once vibrant UPND. “Some of my colleagues who are talking have been in UDA 2006 failed alliance of FDD, UPND and UNIP with us before; they didn’t complain. They were not looking for jobs. They moved from us and went and formed an alliance with PF, they left the pact, and they went to form another pact with MMD. They have been moving around with great sense of instability,” she said.
She advised Hichilema to do an introspection and quench his anger over President Sata’s victory. “On a very personal note, I don’t know why Hakainde is so bitter. He needs to be advised to calm down and see things in an objective way. Every time he is talking, it’s bitterness. I don’t understand,” she said. “When he couldn’t go through in 2006, he said it was because I didn’t campaign for him; he left the pact and now, he is very, very bitter and I personally feel so sorry for him because leadership is about accepting your situation. He’s been looking for pacts here and there. Why? Because he has failed to run his party and that is why he looks for pacts. We don’t look for pacts.”
“He Hichilema knows I am his elder sister. I think he is not serious. I feel sorry for him because he has lost a lot of chances to contribute to this country. You will recall that he was with us; he just came and said he was better qualified, late president Levy Mwanawasa tried to persuade him to work with him but he refused, he said MMD ni chimbusu, but now he is in bed with the MMD,” she said. “That shows a lot of instability.
I feel sorry for him. He was the first one to make a pact with MMD without even his party approving and he was the first one to walk out and chastises PF. That shows a very high level of immaturity and instability and I am a much more mature politician than he is. President Michael Sata came on the popularity of change; people gave him a mandate and we have no right to think that we shouldn’t support him, because not supporting him – I am not talking about getting a job – support the policies that the people put him there for. Let President Sata fail on his own and the people will tell him, he has failed.” Nawakwi advised Hichilema to build an agenda to market himself to the Zambian people.
I think Hichilema elder sister Edith Nawakwi has a SHARP tongue. HH Be careful who you pick scuffles with!
Though true about HH, Nawakwi should be the last person to talk about running down a party! With zero representatives are FDD still in existence?
What has Nawakwi learned in few days? She studied in England and was a minister in Chiluba’s with powers as a finance minister. What did she implement? If she failed in govt, what is she going to accomplish on this while in opposition. Nawakwi just thank Sata for taking you for a holiday. If Sata has failed to control street vendors, what can he achieve out of this summit? PF has no plan.
Nawakwi is brave though she has no MP but she talks sense. Keep it up madam.
#61 is dead right. I end here!
Nawakwi is not even an opposition leader coz she has no party to talk about just like Elias. Of course she has to thank Sata because she did not derserve it in the first place. Now, what will she do with that new knowledge> NOTHING! It would have been better to send more technocrats in the civil service than these ticks.
Nawakwi alafwaya uwa cool mu cheater, so she is busy looking for a screw where she is.
keep it up mama
Nawakwi says, and I quote, “…. If I didn’t come here, I would not have known which way the world is going in terms of sustainable development.” On what basis was she included in the trip to the conference if she is that blank? She is an energy economist who stopped reading ages ago. She certainly did not add any value to Sata’s delagation.
@69 above, the last word should read “delegation”.
I know this if off topic but I’m looking into sraittng my own weblog and was wondering what all is needed to get set up? I’m assuming having a blog like yours would cost a pretty penny? I’m not very web smart so I’m not 100% positive. Any tips or advice would be greatly appreciated. Thank you