IMITA UFOLE DEMEANED WOMEN
…They’re not tools of production – Bishop Lungu
Lumbani Kumwenda
THE words imita ufole [get pregnant in order to get paid] uttered by Vice President Mutale Nalumango recently were demeaning to women, Catholic Diocese of Chipata Bishop George Lungu has said.
Nalumango recently raised a storm after boasting in Parliament that government was looking after the poor and vulnerable, including pregnant women and said “imita ufole [get pregnant so as to be paid]” which many people, including organisations and pressure groups, condemned as encouraging women and girls to engage in immoral behaviour in order to access the government relief money.
Bishop Lungu said telling women to get pregnant in order for them to get paid was tantamount to turning them into tools for the production unit.
He was speaking in Chipata yesterday during Women’s Day celebrations organised by the Daughters of Mary Immaculate (DMI) Sisters.
Bishop Lungu said Nalumango’s words were demeaning to women, whom he said should be advised to work hard in order for them to get paid and not to get pregnant to get paid.
“I just heard and, I’m not sure if it’s or not… but they are saying imita ufole. For me, I’m not telling you to get pregnant and get paid. I’m telling you to work hard to get back,” Bishop Lungu said.
He said telling women to imita ufole was making them look like production unit tools, which was not correct.
Bishop Lungu urged women to work extra hard in order to better their lives.
Nalumango has defended her slight and refused to withdraw her ‘advice’ to women.
And Bishop Lungu has announced that the Catholic Church has started appointing women in key positions.
He said he recently appointed a religious sister to become the first woman in the Diocesan Pontifical Missions Society in Chipata Diocese.
Bishop Lungu said even the mission schools being run by sisters were doing fine in the the diocese.
“Our first diocese human resource officer is a woman and those in charge of women’s and children’s desks have always been religious women. Some of our primary and secondary schools in the diocese are headed by our religious and lay women displaying great performances,” he said.
DMI Sisters vice provincial superior of Zambia and Malawi Sr Viyagu Wences said women and girls continued to face numerous challenges, including unequal access to education and healthcare, discriminatory laws and social norms that marginalised, excluded and silenced them.
Sr Wences said women should rise to the challenge and work together to empower all women and girls.
“Let us be in a world where every woman and girl can thrive, reach her full potential and live a life of dignity and respect,” she said.
Speaking earlier, DMI Country Director Sr Rani Mary said 700 women had been trained in low-cost drip irrigation techniques in Chipata.
