The Zambia National Women’s Lobby (ZNWL) condemns the harassment of a woman and her children by the Minister of Local Government and Rural Development Mr Gary Nkombo, during a raid on brewers of Kachasu, an illegal alcoholic brew.
In a statement released to the media by the organisation’s National Chairperson Ms Daisy Nkhata Ng’ambi, ZNWL said that Mr Nkombo abused his power and position as a leader to victimize a vulnerable woman and that this is not acceptable conduct by a leader.
ZNWL said that while it acknowledged that the brewing and sale of Kachasu are illegal and do not by any means support it as a business, they are quick to add that, they do not believe that it was necessary to humiliate the woman and others found selling the brew, especially in full view of cameras and onlookers.
Below is the full statement
ZNWL CONDEMNS THE HARASSMENT OF THE WOMAN AND HER CHILDREN BY LOCAL GOVERNMENT AND RURAL DEVELOPMENT MINISTER GARY NKOMBO
The Zambia National Women’s Lobby (ZNWL) condemns the harassment of a woman and her children by the Minister of Local Government and Rural Development Mr. Gary Nkombo, during a raid on brewers of Kachasu, an illegal alcoholic brew.
Mr. Nkombo who was in Garden Compound, forced a woman who was found brewing the highly potent Kachasu brew to consume it and further forced her children who were present to do the same. The Minister’s actions are a violation of human rights and an endangerment of the children. The Minister’s actions put the health of the children at risk by forcing them to drink the ilicit brew.
Mr. Nkombo abused his power and position as a leader to victimize a vulnerable woman and this is not acceptable conduct by a leader.
We acknowledge that the brewing and sale of Kachasu is illegal and do not by any means support it as a business. However, we do not believe that it was necessary to humiliate the woman and others found selling the brew, especially in full view of cameras and onlookers.
We believe that part of the solution to addressing the problem of the illicit brewing and sale of Kachasu should include massive sensitization of both the brewers and consumers of Kachasu, in addition to offering alternative income-generating activities. Further, offences such as the brew and sale of illicit brews are already provided for in the law and therefore proper channels must be followed in dealing with perpetrators.
We, therefore, hope that such a show of power and callousness will not happen again especially involving children, who cannot be held accountable for the offences of their parents.
Daisy Nkhata Ng’ambi
ZNWL National Chairperson
PROTEST PROTEST FOR HIS DISMISSAL
A LEOPARD DOESNT CHANGE ITS SPOTS
GARRY NKOMBO SHOULD BE FIRED AND THEN ARRESTED AND CHARGED…ABASH TRIBAL IMMUNITY AND SELECTIVE PROSECUTION….
Women’s Lobby why do you sit in offices instead of helping your fellow women and educating them on the dangers of brewing such alcoholic drinks which do not under go lab testing for the safety of the consumer. Sometimes let us look at the impact of Kachasu and discourage people from consuming it.
WHY DONT YOU SPEAK ABOUT ALL THE SMALL SHOP OWNERS ABUSING YOUNG LADIES BY PAYING THEM UNDER THE MINIMUM WAGES
THAT TOO IS ABUSE
In this Cow republic, there will be no punishment for the member of the cow team.
ZNWL report him to Zamba Police and stop lecturing us . Take action. Shame on you.
ZNWL go and come up with programs to get your fellow women out of this ilicit trade… go and educate those children in night clubs smoking the stuff they share on tables…go and educate those grown women preying on children in night clubs by flashing their finished bodies to children who can no longer remain in an institution of marriage as they are not prepared to build homes…instead live off the flesh of your fellow women….get involoved meet the Minister come up with joint programs….
#6 Yeah, they know where the police station is or the courts are instead of issuing flowery statements get to these places and start the process.
In this Cow Republic, Nkombo is right.
Zambians have learnt the abuse of power today. This is clear evidence that at some point in the recent past Zambians could hardly speak of office abuse or abuse of power. Yes, today Zambians have freedom of expression which in the past was on only on paper. However, freedom of expression goes hand-in-hand with responsibility on the person excising that freedom. So also is the authority of office bearers.
In the case of Hon Garry Nkombo, he has retrospectively realised his action were uncalled for and offered an apology to every Zambian and the woman in particular at the centre of the ‘Kachasu’ saga. This is how a leader should do in the event of getting matters wrong.
Lets wait for more of our leaders taking this model of leadership. Lets move on with bigger issues of the nation.
And thats all she can do-talk. Look the comfort of the chair she is sitting on? If that chair was sold, it can provide the needed capital for this woman to start a legal business than poison people. The purpose of forcing her to drink her own beer is that these women put alot of other harmful and deadly things into these drinks(esp muti things for higher sales).So yes it was a good intention and Garry shouldnt have apologised.
Mr. Garry Nkombo did not contravene any law. Everyone must carefully describe Mr. Nkombo’s actions and, read and understand the Zambian law in its entirety. I have read and understood all the reactive comments. I also followed emotional and unbalanced views of all concerned parties in terms of Mr. Nkombo’s actions. Honestly speaking, neither the emotional views nor unbalanced comments make any sense and, they fail to add any value to the cream of the matter. Most significantly, Mr. Nkombo must stop commenting on the matter at issue. Mr. Nkombo must contact his attorney and direct all concerned parties to his attorney. The lady is not a victim but a willing participant in an illegal activity and, she must be treated as such. No amount of sympathy and twisting will turn her into an…
Very uneducated fellow this guy above.