Q FM Africa's Modern Radio
NGOCC Board Chairperson Sara Longwe
The Non Governmental Organisations’ Coordinating Council (NGOCC) has condemned the conduct exhibited by UPND cadres at the Lusaka Magistrate court on Monday,19th June where they hurled insults at Religious Affairs Minister Godfridah Sumaili who had gone to attend a contempt of court case.
NGOCC Chairperson Sara Longwe says the conduct exhibited by UPND cadres is saddening.
Ms Longwe says as an organization they condemn the misogynistic attack by the UPND cadres on Rev. Sumaili by calling her names for exercising her constitutional rights of attending the court case.
She says the attack on Rev. Sumaili is a Gender Based Violence which was meant to intimidate and silence her as a woman.
Ms Longwe says Rev. Sumaili as a human being has a right of association and freedom of movement as she deems fit and no other person should intimidate, insult and assault her for doing so.
She notes that the effects of such attacks are that women in similar situations who aspire for higher positions of leadership will shy away from participating for fear of being attacked by cadres.
Ms Longwe says the NGOCC demands that the police take action against cadres that insult and physically assault women in order to serve as a lesson to others, who are in the habit of attacking female leaders.