No limits should be placed on what women can achieve - Chisala
WORKING as a civil servant was one of the best and most valuable experiences, which has held me in good stead in my working life, says Tunis-based African Development Bank division manager for results reporting, quality assurance and results Dr Victoria Chisala.
"Of course like all bureaucracies, it has its challenges but having worked in a number of international organisations, I realised it is the nature of large organisations. I am proud that we have a fully functioning civil service in Zambia which is not the case in some other countries," she says.
Dr Chisala in this profile interview says Zambia is among the fastest growing economies in Africa with a stable and peaceful governance environment and that during the last decade, it has continued to achieve high levels of growth, averaging over 6 per cent annually, moving the country from the least developed countries to lower-middle-income status.
This is a remarkable achievement according to Dr Chisala.
However, despite improvements in economic performance, she says Zambia still has a way to go in reducing inequality.
"The poverty headcount remains high, with a significant part of the population living below the poverty line. In order for the vast majority to share in Zambia's growing prosperity, the country will need to focus on creating jobs and expanding employment opportunities. This is where the emphasis should be."
Dr Chisala says this will require strong collective action from both the citizenry and the country's leadership since development was a state of mind that requires the mobilisation of people.
"We cannot take for granted that this can happen without considerable effort," she says.
Some of the key areas which Dr Chisala believes are quite critical to Zambia's economic growth and development include investment in infrastructure so that an environment for both foreign and domestic investment is created.
"We have to be in control of our destiny as a country. It cannot be left to others who might not have our best interests at heart. I am still a firm believer in the importance of public investment. Of course the private sector is a key partner in development but the fundamentals have to be in place," Dr Chisala argues. "In addition to paying appropriate taxes, FDI foreign direct investment should also be subject to visible and tangible corporate social responsibility."
With regard to Africa's economic development, Dr Chisala says the continent has made significant progress in human development and on some of the development goals but that the degree of achievement varies from country to country.
"Compared to the 1980s and 1990s, we have made strides in education, health and general well-being. The middle class is growing. Africans are now considered part of a viable consumer market by major global companies. This is a sign of the growing prosperity on the continent," she says. "Africa has made substantial progress on the MDGs, given that some countries were starting from a very low base. Based on the information available, the continent is on track to achieving targets on universal primary education, gender equality and combating HIV/AIDS. However, we are still off track on some of the critical goals relating to the eradication of extreme poverty, reducing child mortality, maternal health and environmental sustainability. Zambia is one of the top twenty countries that have accelerated progress, with 14 out of 22 indicators (MDG Report 2013)."
However, Dr Chisala says the rate of progress in poverty reduction has slowed down and there was need to examine the factors.
"That notwithstanding, the narrative has changed and now Africa is a rising continent. I don't think that the optimism we have for the continent is misplaced. Even the Afro-pessimists have had to admit that this is a continent on the move," she says.
On women and girls, Dr Chisala says this sector of the population have the capacity to achieve great things.
"We should not place limits of what women can do. Access to educational facilities has been considerably improved and policies are in place to provide women with opportunities to pursue careers, run businesses and have access to productive resources. However, society and culture still places barriers; sometimes invisible barriers, on their ability to be their best," Dr Chisala says. "Young people need to be coached and mentored in order for them to succeed. I encourage young women in particular to work hard to achieve their full potential in whichever field they choose. This requires focus and sense of purpose. However, in order for them to do so, society, including men, have to create a nurturing and supportive environment."
Q: Who is Dr Victoria Chisala?
A: I am 42 years old and the first born in a family of four. I have two brothers - Chama and Kasweka - and one sister, Mbilya. I was born in Lusaka but spent most of my childhood on the Copperbelt in Kitwe, Chililabombwe and Luanshya. My parents, Pezo Njolomba Chisala and Chama Chisala, worked for ZCCM and I attended a number of primary schools, ending my primary education at Konkola Trust School in Chililabombwe where I wrote my grade seven exam. Our family home is still in Luanshya. Unfortunately, my father passed away in 2008.
Q: Which secondary school and university did you attend?
A: Like many pupils in the trust school system, Mpelembe was a natural choice for my family. ZCCM had just opened the school in 1983 to cater for science-based education that would meet the needs of the copper mining and related industries. The school included a sixth form that would prepare students for entry into universities in the UK and later the United States. Entry into Mpelembe was very selective at the time. A minimum of about 720 points was required for entry, if I recall correctly. We were the second set of grade eight pupils. In fact, the school was still being built around us. We were very privileged to be part of this development. I have very fond memories of Mpelembe. The girls were housed at Wusakile Hostels, which were previously used by student nurses, and bussed to school daily. We eventually moved to the main campus and into our hostel named Louis Gray after the manager of Copperbelt Educational Trust (CET), and watched over very carefully by our house-mistress Mrs Kondolo. At the time it was still relatively small so we formed strong bonds with other pupils, some of whom are still firm friends today and form a large international network. My siblings also went to Mpelembe.
I proceeded to the University of Zambia after completing secondary school. Life at UNZA was very different from Mpelembe Secondary School. However, I think I had the advantage of coming from a co-ed boarding school which meant that I was quite accustomed to studying and living in close proximity with boys and men. After considering a number of options including Mass Communication and Law, I majored in Development Studies with a Minor in Economics. I graduated with merit in 1994.
Q: Your early career years?
A: After completing my university education, I began my career at the National Commission for Development Planning as an economist in the Public Investment Department in July 1994. We were responsible for translating macroeconomic policies into sector development plans and programmes, preparing the Public Investment Plan and the National Development Plans. We were merged with the Ministry of Finance in 1996 to establish the Ministry of Finance and Economic Development. I was initially in budget office and then in the External Resources Mobilisation Department. During the time I started working for the civil service, Zambia was undergoing a massive transformation into a market-based economy. At the time, an aid-dependent country like Zambia had no choice but to follow policy recommendations of the international financial institutions. The results of one of the key components of the reform programme, the privatisation of ZCCM, shows that the government's concerns and reservations may have been well founded. Of course much can be said in retrospect given the eventual developments in the price of copper and the mining industry. Indeed, some degree of caution in the sale may have been necessary but the pressure from donors to speed up the process was enormous. The pace of privatisation required, together with a lack of experience in negotiating on that scale, meant that the government was not able to maximise its benefit from the process. The privatisation programme and other economic reforms did not bring about the anticipated growth and recovery. The government did successfully negotiate debt relief under the HIPC Initiative, but structural adjustment was quite a painful and extensive process for both the economy and the people.
Q: What inspired you to pursue post-graduate studies?
A: I had always wanted to pursue further studies. I was inspired by my lecturer, Dr Akuffo, to apply for the Cambridge Commonwealth Trust Scholarship as he had been to both Oxford and Cambridge. I was interviewed in Harare with other candidates from Zimbabwe, Zambia and Malawi. I was thrilled to be selected and provided an opportunity to study at such a historical and prestigious university. Again, I majored in Development Studies. Apart from the expected challenges of adjusting to a new culture and country, I would say that my adjustment to Cambridge was pretty easy. I have to say here that the style of Zambian educational system, including UNZA is well suited to post-graduate studies in the UK. I would really like us to re-establish faith and confidence in our education system. As a woman, apart from being in the minority, I don't
"Of course like all bureaucracies, it has its challenges but having worked in a number of international organisations, I realised it is the nature of large organisations. I am proud that we have a fully functioning civil service in Zambia which is not the case in some other countries," she says.
Dr Chisala in this profile interview says Zambia is among the fastest growing economies in Africa with a stable and peaceful governance environment and that during the last decade, it has continued to achieve high levels of growth, averaging over 6 per cent annually, moving the country from the least developed countries to lower-middle-income status.
This is a remarkable achievement according to Dr Chisala.
However, despite improvements in economic performance, she says Zambia still has a way to go in reducing inequality.
"The poverty headcount remains high, with a significant part of the population living below the poverty line. In order for the vast majority to share in Zambia's growing prosperity, the country will need to focus on creating jobs and expanding employment opportunities. This is where the emphasis should be."
Dr Chisala says this will require strong collective action from both the citizenry and the country's leadership since development was a state of mind that requires the mobilisation of people.
"We cannot take for granted that this can happen without considerable effort," she says.
Some of the key areas which Dr Chisala believes are quite critical to Zambia's economic growth and development include investment in infrastructure so that an environment for both foreign and domestic investment is created.
"We have to be in control of our destiny as a country. It cannot be left to others who might not have our best interests at heart. I am still a firm believer in the importance of public investment. Of course the private sector is a key partner in development but the fundamentals have to be in place," Dr Chisala argues. "In addition to paying appropriate taxes, FDI foreign direct investment should also be subject to visible and tangible corporate social responsibility."
With regard to Africa's economic development, Dr Chisala says the continent has made significant progress in human development and on some of the development goals but that the degree of achievement varies from country to country.
"Compared to the 1980s and 1990s, we have made strides in education, health and general well-being. The middle class is growing. Africans are now considered part of a viable consumer market by major global companies. This is a sign of the growing prosperity on the continent," she says. "Africa has made substantial progress on the MDGs, given that some countries were starting from a very low base. Based on the information available, the continent is on track to achieving targets on universal primary education, gender equality and combating HIV/AIDS. However, we are still off track on some of the critical goals relating to the eradication of extreme poverty, reducing child mortality, maternal health and environmental sustainability. Zambia is one of the top twenty countries that have accelerated progress, with 14 out of 22 indicators (MDG Report 2013)."
However, Dr Chisala says the rate of progress in poverty reduction has slowed down and there was need to examine the factors.
"That notwithstanding, the narrative has changed and now Africa is a rising continent. I don't think that the optimism we have for the continent is misplaced. Even the Afro-pessimists have had to admit that this is a continent on the move," she says.
On women and girls, Dr Chisala says this sector of the population have the capacity to achieve great things.
"We should not place limits of what women can do. Access to educational facilities has been considerably improved and policies are in place to provide women with opportunities to pursue careers, run businesses and have access to productive resources. However, society and culture still places barriers; sometimes invisible barriers, on their ability to be their best," Dr Chisala says. "Young people need to be coached and mentored in order for them to succeed. I encourage young women in particular to work hard to achieve their full potential in whichever field they choose. This requires focus and sense of purpose. However, in order for them to do so, society, including men, have to create a nurturing and supportive environment."
Q: Who is Dr Victoria Chisala?
A: I am 42 years old and the first born in a family of four. I have two brothers - Chama and Kasweka - and one sister, Mbilya. I was born in Lusaka but spent most of my childhood on the Copperbelt in Kitwe, Chililabombwe and Luanshya. My parents, Pezo Njolomba Chisala and Chama Chisala, worked for ZCCM and I attended a number of primary schools, ending my primary education at Konkola Trust School in Chililabombwe where I wrote my grade seven exam. Our family home is still in Luanshya. Unfortunately, my father passed away in 2008.
Q: Which secondary school and university did you attend?
A: Like many pupils in the trust school system, Mpelembe was a natural choice for my family. ZCCM had just opened the school in 1983 to cater for science-based education that would meet the needs of the copper mining and related industries. The school included a sixth form that would prepare students for entry into universities in the UK and later the United States. Entry into Mpelembe was very selective at the time. A minimum of about 720 points was required for entry, if I recall correctly. We were the second set of grade eight pupils. In fact, the school was still being built around us. We were very privileged to be part of this development. I have very fond memories of Mpelembe. The girls were housed at Wusakile Hostels, which were previously used by student nurses, and bussed to school daily. We eventually moved to the main campus and into our hostel named Louis Gray after the manager of Copperbelt Educational Trust (CET), and watched over very carefully by our house-mistress Mrs Kondolo. At the time it was still relatively small so we formed strong bonds with other pupils, some of whom are still firm friends today and form a large international network. My siblings also went to Mpelembe.
I proceeded to the University of Zambia after completing secondary school. Life at UNZA was very different from Mpelembe Secondary School. However, I think I had the advantage of coming from a co-ed boarding school which meant that I was quite accustomed to studying and living in close proximity with boys and men. After considering a number of options including Mass Communication and Law, I majored in Development Studies with a Minor in Economics. I graduated with merit in 1994.
Q: Your early career years?
A: After completing my university education, I began my career at the National Commission for Development Planning as an economist in the Public Investment Department in July 1994. We were responsible for translating macroeconomic policies into sector development plans and programmes, preparing the Public Investment Plan and the National Development Plans. We were merged with the Ministry of Finance in 1996 to establish the Ministry of Finance and Economic Development. I was initially in budget office and then in the External Resources Mobilisation Department. During the time I started working for the civil service, Zambia was undergoing a massive transformation into a market-based economy. At the time, an aid-dependent country like Zambia had no choice but to follow policy recommendations of the international financial institutions. The results of one of the key components of the reform programme, the privatisation of ZCCM, shows that the government's concerns and reservations may have been well founded. Of course much can be said in retrospect given the eventual developments in the price of copper and the mining industry. Indeed, some degree of caution in the sale may have been necessary but the pressure from donors to speed up the process was enormous. The pace of privatisation required, together with a lack of experience in negotiating on that scale, meant that the government was not able to maximise its benefit from the process. The privatisation programme and other economic reforms did not bring about the anticipated growth and recovery. The government did successfully negotiate debt relief under the HIPC Initiative, but structural adjustment was quite a painful and extensive process for both the economy and the people.
Q: What inspired you to pursue post-graduate studies?
A: I had always wanted to pursue further studies. I was inspired by my lecturer, Dr Akuffo, to apply for the Cambridge Commonwealth Trust Scholarship as he had been to both Oxford and Cambridge. I was interviewed in Harare with other candidates from Zimbabwe, Zambia and Malawi. I was thrilled to be selected and provided an opportunity to study at such a historical and prestigious university. Again, I majored in Development Studies. Apart from the expected challenges of adjusting to a new culture and country, I would say that my adjustment to Cambridge was pretty easy. I have to say here that the style of Zambian educational system, including UNZA is well suited to post-graduate studies in the UK. I would really like us to re-establish faith and confidence in our education system. As a woman, apart from being in the minority, I don't