Gwendoline Konie

thumb|Gwendoline Konie (1981) Gwendoline Noreen Chomba Konie (9 October 1938 – 14 March 2009) was a Zambian poet, diplomat and politician. She was the Zambian ambassador to Scandinavia, the United Nations and Germany. She formed her own party in 2000 and stood as a candidate to be the President of Zambia in 2001. When she died she was given a state funeral. Quotes I have always been drawn to politics, but I pursued a career in the Foreign Service. In 1997, if you had asked me if I would run for the presidency, I would have thought you were crazy. However, as I traveled back and forth from Germany to Zambia and witnessed the economic decline and poverty, I started to rethink my position. I chose to run for President because I believe that the first country in Africa to address poverty, hunger, and disease while promoting women's participation in decision-making will achieve significant development. When I announced my entry into politics, I quickly gained both supporters and detractors, with neither group taking the time to understand my motivations. People don’t hate you personally; they resent your courage and willingness to take bold actions. I believe these reactions were not solely due to my being a woman. In Zambia, many male-led parties genuinely advocate for women's equality and their representation in power, which is surprising considering the significant influence that women in civil society have in terms of organizing and voting strength. People often dislike those who are assertive about their opinions. In our traditional society, men and women are viewed differently, with distinct expectations and values assigned to each gender. Gwendoline Konie's speech at the event "Gender Links for Equality and Justice" addressed key issues related to gender equality and justice July 1, 2012 There was a situation of a "zero venture fund zone" aimed at supporting local nationals across all Sub-Saharan African countries, where approximately 70 percent of the population lived in poverty. Gwendoline Konie discusses the shortage of venture capital External links Biography Category:1938 births Category:2009 deaths Category:Government ministers Category:Women politicians in Zambia Category:Poets from Zambia Category:Women authors from Zambia Category:Ambassadors Category:Women born in the 1930s Category:Permanent Representatives to the United Nations