Where are gender activists?
Where have all the gender activists gone? It seems to me they have been uncharacteristically quiet on the Anita Kalinde sentencing.
Even though the Thyolo North MP has obtained an injunction against her 30-day suspension from Paliament and is back in the house, I am surprised that none of the ‘usual suspects’ has spoken out on the fact that the motion was tabled in the House in Kalinde’s absence and that Sangala was let off the hook.
Even some of the MPS that form part of the Women’s Caucus in Parliament voted against the Thyolo North MP in the motion to suspend her from the House following her physical reaction to Internal Security and National Defence Minister Aaron Sangala’s verbal attack.
According to a report in The Nation, most of the women actually voted three times to ensure that their fellow woman was suspended, even though no one heard from Kalinde and the issue was not investigated.
Before I write any further on this, let me make a few things extremely clear;
1.    I do not in any way support Kalinde’s overreaction; she is a lady (a beautiful one too) and, therefore, should have reacted as one, especially in Parliament, where she is in the public eye and is an inspiration to women and girls all over the country. Two wrongs never make a right. Is it not said that arguing with a fool only lowers you to their level and that wrestling with a pig is worthless because ‘you will both get dirty but the pig will love it?
2.    True, Sangala provoked her. He acted like the big fat bully in a school yard who circles around the campus then pounces on the littlest and weakest child. He singled out Kalinde from the group of people who were demanding that he clarify a few things on this statement concerning the death of Polytechnic student Robert Chasowa. As people bombarded him with questions, he stammered a while, repeated a few things then launched into an attack on Kalinde. What he said and the manner in which he behaved was infuriating and emotionally bruising to the Thyolo North MP. The fact that the Speaker of the House did nothing on the matter despite Kalinde voicing her concerns only made matters worse. The repercussions should have, therefore, been born by all three of these people with emphasis on Sangala as the initiator of the unruliness and Kalinde as the one who actually went physical on the minister.
3.    I am not a feminist or gender activist; I believe in equal opportunities and rights for both men and women. I am merely concerned that none of the gender activists in the country have spoken out on this issue and the fact that Sangala too deserved to be punished for his role in the whole thing. Whatever happened to people taking care of their own?
What is your opinion on the matter? Write to me and let me know what you think.
