Edith Nawakwi

Edith Zewelani Nawakwi (born 1959) is a Zambian politician and economist by profession. She is the first woman in Zambia to hold the post of Minister of Finance following her appointment in 1998. She is also the first woman to hold that post in the SADC region. She is the President of the Forum for Democracy and Development under which she ran for president at the 2016 general election.

Quotes

• Nothing and no one will stop me now. I believe that Zambia will only be saved by a woman and that Zambia is ready for a woman president. As soon as the men heard I was contesting, they all panicked. I will work and deliver like I delivered when I was minister of finance. The current leadership belongs to the liberation struggle era. We need leadership for the 21st century!
• Our agenda when we get into government (will) be to provide a constitution that provides for the rights of all individuals, including women and persons with disabilities.
  • [1] On what she is going to do differently in her campaign.
• Zambian women have the same rights as men, and running for political office is not an exception. When I took over as minister of finance people had all sorts of negative questions because I was a woman... I was minister of finance during one of the most difficult phases in the history of our country, but I managed to contain the situation.
• I was minister of finance at a time when Zambia was at its lowest. I remember there was a day when I was required to effect payment for half a million dollars and the government did not have any money. We had to borrow from one of our commercial banks. We were trying to liberalise the economy but we had no income in the country. I was privileged to be one of those who managed to push through the structural adjustment programme.
  • [2] On changing the negative perception and stereotypes about women.
• As I went to file my nomination, as I walked up to the Chief Justice, I asked myself ‘Why am I doing this?’ I was (asking) myself ‘am I equal to the task?’ But when I looked at my supporters and their excitement, it helped me appreciate the trust. I believe Zambia is ready for a woman to be president. Only a woman can bring about real change in this country.
  • [3]

• 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.
  • [4] On the opportunity of travelling with President Sata to the Rio+20 UN Conference on Sustainable Development. 2012

• 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.
  • [5] Pledged to continue to play her part in seeing to it that sustainable development is enhanced in Zambia. 2012

• 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.
  • [6] A call for Africa needs to fill the financing gaps. 2012

• 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.
  • [7] On the task to make the world a better place for all in the next 20 years. 2012

• 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.
  • [8] Her experiences at the Rio+20 conference. 2012

• 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.
  • [9] Called for greater participation of women and youths in development to make Rio+20 a success. 2012

• We have to explore alternative sources of energy like solar and others to enhance access to energy. Alternative sources are much cheaper than electricity.
  • [10] Urged Zambia and other African countries to sort out energy problems to ensure more efficient and environmentally friendly energy use. 2012

• Judge us without prejudice, not based on gender, not on tribe but on whether we can rebuild the nation and provide dignity to our people.
  • [11] Speaking during a visit to the Western Province, 2014

• If you just sit and work hard, you will be here for just five years, but if you misuse this time you will regret for 75 years.
  • [12] Her advice to the girls of Niko Girls Technical School when she visited the school during her tour of duty in Namwala district. 2015

• Maths is the easiest subject, Science is the easiest subject, if you can fry an egg then you can get 100 percent in maths. There is this myth that maths and science subjects are difficult and therefore should be for boys. No! Any one can be good in these subjects; all you need is to prepare, read and these subjects will be easy for you.
  • [13] A reminder that girls can achieve anything boys can; no subject is too tough. 2015

• You have a good opportunity of going to a beautiful school that we, the adults, did not have, and I want you to use this opportunity to move the country forward. I want you to move the country to a level that we have never been.
  • [14] Advised the pupils to focus on their education now, as the opportunity may never come again. 2015

• We have a problem with a girl child, you are at an age which very is dangerous. Some of you have graduated into adult hood and a number of you especially my children in grade 8, you are now experiencing adolescence. You need support from your elder sisters. This the age where you can lose yourself. I have seen some girls at the age of 13 become mothers.
• Keep away from those activities because the beautiful and handsome men are either old age or they are not yet born because if a young man is of your age then they don’t have your aptitude. Boys grow slower than girls, so if you are 13 you are in a different world.
  • [15] Warned pupils that getting involved in bad behavior can have serious consequences and ruin their future. 2015

• I come from an extremely disadvantaged background but said to myself that before I die I want to wear a Rolex watch, that I drive a V8 and I have managed to do those things.
  • [16] Motivating girls to reach for their dreams and create a brighter future. 2015

• We are not in the race because I am a woman. I feel that among the candidates standing in Zambia, I think we possess the opportunity to do much better than my colleagues. I think for a long time in Zambia, the voters are saying that it’s an opportune time for a female candidate.
  • [17] On Zambia's readiness for a woman president. 2015

• This smacks of the deepest scam were our people have put money in their pockets and left the country to be injured. In another country the Minister of Energy and all involved would have been fired by now that is why am saying that this should be led on the door step of the Minister of Defence (the President). He is aware of what has happened, they are shrouding it in ‘we are investigating’ what is there to investigate? All of us have the reports and we all know what is happening at indeni.
• This is like going in a market and buying salaula. They actually went shopping for salaula crude. No one should hound wink the Zambian people and say that the crude oil is faulty, faulty is the word you use on something which is not properly made so for anyone to use the word faulty is actually a confirmation that we bought salaula crude. Faulty products are usually auctioned as seconds.
  • [18] Condemned substandard oil import as corrupt and economically damaging. 2015

• The consequences of the actions by this Government are the following; Damage to motor vehicle engines by the users of these products in due course because the hydro cracker is not able to pick out all the acidity from the products that will come out of that crude oil. They will not be able to treat it fully and remove all the impurities.
• The second problem is that they will not get enough products even if you were to refine the remaining 115000 metric tons which is not yet processed. We are bound to have shortages and more price hikes of diesel and patrol because they will be taking out more heavy fuel oil than products. They will have huge stocks of heavy fuel oil. Maybe be out of 115000 metric tons even 50,000 metric tonnes will be heavy fuel oil were are they going to store it because most users have migrated from heavy fuel oil to electric fired boilers.
• You will also see planes begin to redirect to other countries for refueling because the the don’t want their engines to be damaged by contaminated Jet A1 fuel.
• The third problem is that the hydro cracker is not able to take products which are contaminated. It will burn and you will find that Indeni has to shut down every week to prevent the hydro cracker from burning, even the pipes through which they are pumping this contaminated oil will begin to corrode so they have to continuously replace them or clean them. Ideally they should run uninterrupted for 3 months or 6 months if they have done prementenace work.
  • [19] Outlined the repercussions of importing dirty crude oil by the PF Government. 2015

• I bring to the political arena a voice of wisdom,” she says. “People should vote for me not because of my gender but because of what I am able to deliver to them.
• When women are in charge, they truly deliver.
• I think Africa in general will heal the wounds of poverty when mothers become the caretakers of our governments.
• The ground has shaken, and Zambians are ready to have a woman who they believe will deliver.
  • [20] Announcing her candidacy as Zambia's only female 2016 Presidential candidate. 2016

• He has no heart. If he has it doesn’t feel the people’s pain. The only heart he has is ‘how much will be in my pocket.
• I have said he doesn’t understand economics. He is a cattle economist.
• He doesn’t listen to God. He has power and he will do what he wants.
  • [21] Her thoughts about President Hakainde Hichilema. 2023