Woman picked for 2006 polls

2005-05-02 11:08

Lusaka - A trailblazing Zambian woman and economist, Edith Nawakwi, was chosen at the weekend by the opposition Forum for Democracy and Development (FDD) to challenge President Levy Mwanawasa in the 2006 elections.

Nawakwi, a member of parliament and the first woman to serve as Zambia's finance minister, was declared winner of the presidential nomination after polling more than 50% of ballots in the second round, beating former minister Enerst Mwansa by a wide margin.

"I am greatly honoured with the victory, especially since most delegates were men and yet they voted for a woman," Nawakwi told AFP.

"I am now looking forward to the 2006 presidential elections," Nawakwi said.

In the first round, Nawakwi beat four candidates including former prime minister Malimba Masheke but failed to garner the required 50% plus one vote in order to win the nomination.

Nawakwi, 44, is one of the founding members of the ruling Movement for Multiparty Democracy (MMD) and held senior ministerial posts before she was sacked in 2001 for opposing a bid by then president Frederick Chiluba to run for a third term in office.

Nawakwi and several other former ministers formed the FDD in 2001, led by former president Christon Tembo. Nawakwi was vice-president of the party.

Nawakwi, a mother of three, served as Chiluba's labour minister, agriculture minister and energy minister before she was sacked from government.

She held the finance portfolio from 1997 to 1999 and later served as labour and social security minister until she defected to the opposition.

- AFP