By Francis Chipalo
Chilubi aspiring lawmaker Christabel Kalasa has urged capable women to consider running as independent candidates in elections when overlooked by political parties for reasons unrelated to merit or public support.
Kalasa said she had twice been left out of party adoption processes despite having grassroots backing and a record of community service.
Meanwhile, Kalasa said aligning oneself too closely with parties often wastes time and resources, saying women who build party structures and mobilize communities are frequently abandoned when leadership opportunities arise.
“Do not blindly follow a political party. Instead, let the political party follow you. Your value, influence, and contribution should speak louder than party loyalty,” she said.
Kalasa cautioned against verbal political promises without written commitment, saying such arrangements often leave women “used, betrayed, and discarded.”
Now contesting as an independent candidate, Kalasa said the move allows one to avoid unfair internal politics, helps in speaking freely without intimidation, and contributes to building movements based on service rather than patronage.
She said independence sends a message that women are “not political decorations, but serious leaders with vision and capability.”
Kalasa added that leadership should be earned through hard work and public support, not granted as a favor, and urged women to run independently when they have proven themselves at the grassroots level.
