Edith Nawakwi

Edith Zewelani Nawakwi (born c. 1959) is a Zambian politician and economist by profession. She is the first woman in Zambia to hold the post of Minister of Finance following her appointment in 1998 since Zambia's independence 33 years previously to that time. She was also the first woman to hold that post in the SADC region. She is the President of the Forum for Democracy and Development under which she ran for president at the 2016 general election.

Quotes

• "He has no heart. If he has it doesn’t feel the people’s pain. The only heart he has is ‘how much will be in my pocket."
• "I have said he doesn’t understand economics. He is a cattle economist."
• "He doesn’t listen to God. He has power and he will do what he wants."
  • President Hakainde Hichilema is a heartless extortionist-Edith Nawakwi by Chief Editor. February 23, 2023. Retrieved 7/11/2023.
• Nothing and no one will stop me now. I believe that Zambia will only be saved by a woman and that Zambia is ready for a woman president. As soon as the men heard I was contesting, they all panicked. I will work and deliver like I delivered when I was minister of finance. The current leadership belongs to the liberation struggle era. We need leadership for the 21st century!
  • [1]
• Our agenda when we get into government (will) be to provide a constitution that provides for the rights of all individuals, including women and persons with disabilities.
  • [2]
• Zambian women have the same rights as men, and running for political office is not an exception. When I took over as minister of finance people had all sorts of negative questions because I was a woman... I was minister of finance during one of the most difficult phases in the history of our country, but I managed to contain the situation.
  • [3]
• I was minister of finance at a time when Zambia was at its lowest. I remember there was a day when I was required to effect payment for half a million dollars and the government did not have any money. We had to borrow from one of our commercial banks. We were trying to liberalise the economy but we had no income in the country. I was privileged to be one of those who managed to push through the structural adjustment programme.
  • [4]
• As I went to file my nomination, as I walked up to the Chief Justice, I asked myself ‘Why am I doing this?’ I was (asking) myself ‘am I equal to the task?’ But when I looked at my supporters and their excitement, it helped me appreciate the trust. I believe Zambia is ready for a woman to be president. Only a woman can bring about real change in this country.
  • [5]