The Roles and Challenges of Policewomen in the Zambia Police 1966–1995
Keywords:
Dominated Institution, Stereotyping, Challenges, Work Culture, Discrimination and Harassment
Abstract
This study examines the roles and challenges of women in male dominated institutions focusing on the case of Zambia Police from 1966 to 1995. Primary and secondary sources were consulted. Primary sources used included oral interviews, consulting colonial and post-colonial government reports and conference papers. The secondary sources include books, dissertations and journals. The study argues that Zambia Police Service formerly known as Northern Rhodesia Police was formed in 1932 and at inception it only comprised men with no intentions of considering the inclusion of female Police officers. In 1947, the Force started employing clerks and African civilians that included twelve women. The female clerks and wives of the senior police officers helped the Force to search, guard and escort female and juvenile offenders to their convenience rooms. The study further reveals that it was very important for the Force to consider the recruitment and training of female police officers and equip them with police skills as a pilot project. European women were first engaged and trained as police officers in 1955 and the African first females during 1958. The roles of these policewomen were mainly confined to clerical and administrative work. In 1966, two years after independence, the Force started recruitment and training of policewomen on a permanent basis. Policewomen found it difficult to adapt to the work culture of men towards them because they were discriminated against in many ways. The policewomen were faced with a number of challenges and barriers that hindered their advancement in the police. The study concluded that from 1966 to 1995, policewomen contributed to maintenance of law and order in the country. Despite the challenges they faced, they were able to gain recognition, acceptance and promotion to higher ranks.References
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6. Dowbiggin, H. “Confidential Report on the Northern Rhodesia Police,” Lusaka: Govt. Printers, 1937.
7. Emsley, C. “The English Police: A Political and Social History,” London: Longman, 1996.
8. Fairchild, E. S. Women Police in Weimar: Professionalism Politics and Innovation in Police Organisations, Law and Society Review, Vol. 21. No 3, 1987.
9. Gewald, J. and Hinfelaar, M. (eds.), One Zambia Many Histories: Towards the History of Post- Colonial Zambia Leiden: Brill, 2008.
10. Hamoonga, R. “Mary Chikwanda goes Clergy,” Police News Issue No.003, 2010: 24.
11. Hunt, J. “The logic of sexism among police”. Women and Criminal Justice, 1990, 2, pp. 3-30.
12. Interview with former Compol. Nellia Shibuyunji, Kafue, 21st April, 2014.
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16. Interview with Compol. Winfridah Kumwenda, Lilayi Paramilitary, 21st March, 2019.
17. Interview with C/Insp. Mercy Tembo, Lilayi, 18th June, 2014.
18. Interview with W/Compol. Nellia Shibuyunji, Kafue, 21st April, 2014
19. Interview with Senior Officer Staff. Benny Manengu.
20. Interview with Senior Public Relations Police officer Raymond Hamoonga, Police Force Headquarters, 21st March 2019.
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35. National Archives of Zambia: Box 122 Shelf 18, F. A. Hopkins, A History of Northern Rhodesia Police in the Great War 1914-1918 (1923), p. 1.
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42. United Nations, “Entity for Gender Equality and the Empowerment of Women in Zimbabwe,”24th October 2011 available on line @http: //un.org/conferences/women. Retrieved on 24/03/2014. Police Staff Writer, “Tracing Our Police Roots,” Nkhwazi Northern Rhodesia Police Magazine, Vol.5:1, 1 April 1988.
43. Rothman, N. C. “African Urban Development in the Colonial Period: A Study of Lusaka, 1905-1964,” PhD. Thesis, North Western University, 1972.
44. Shaba, T. “The Social – Economic Impact of the Mushala Rebellion in North Western Province of Zambia 1976-1990.” M.A. Dissertation, University of Zambia, 2019.
45. The Northern Rhodesia Police Hand Book Lusaka: Government. Printers, 1954, p.45.
46. Zambia Police Annual Report, Lusaka: Govt. Printers 1979.
2. Brown, J. and Heidensohn, F. Gender and Policing: Comparative Perspectives, Hound mills: Macmillan 2000.
3. Chabu, G. “Recruitment and Promotion Practices in Zambia Police Service from 1964-2009,” MA. Dissertation, University of Zambia, 2014.
4. Chiputa, E.K. “The Theory and Practice of Imprisonment in Northern Rhodesia,” M.A. Dissertation, University of Zambia, 1993.
5. Clancy, C. “50 Years later: women in policing. Communiqué. December,” An Garda Sio ́cha ́na Journal, 32, 2009.
6. Dowbiggin, H. “Confidential Report on the Northern Rhodesia Police,” Lusaka: Govt. Printers, 1937.
7. Emsley, C. “The English Police: A Political and Social History,” London: Longman, 1996.
8. Fairchild, E. S. Women Police in Weimar: Professionalism Politics and Innovation in Police Organisations, Law and Society Review, Vol. 21. No 3, 1987.
9. Gewald, J. and Hinfelaar, M. (eds.), One Zambia Many Histories: Towards the History of Post- Colonial Zambia Leiden: Brill, 2008.
10. Hamoonga, R. “Mary Chikwanda goes Clergy,” Police News Issue No.003, 2010: 24.
11. Hunt, J. “The logic of sexism among police”. Women and Criminal Justice, 1990, 2, pp. 3-30.
12. Interview with former Compol. Nellia Shibuyunji, Kafue, 21st April, 2014.
13. Interview with S/Supt. Justin Mutale, Lusaka, 11th June, 2014.Interview with C/Insp. Mercy Tembo, Lilayi, 18th June, 2014.
14. Interview with Ass. Sup. Lloyd Mushauko Gender National Coordinator for Zambia Police Service, Lusaka, 6th August, 2019
15. Interview with Senior Officer Staff Benny Manengu.
16. Interview with Compol. Winfridah Kumwenda, Lilayi Paramilitary, 21st March, 2019.
17. Interview with C/Insp. Mercy Tembo, Lilayi, 18th June, 2014.
18. Interview with W/Compol. Nellia Shibuyunji, Kafue, 21st April, 2014
19. Interview with Senior Officer Staff. Benny Manengu.
20. Interview with Senior Public Relations Police officer Raymond Hamoonga, Police Force Headquarters, 21st March 2019.
21. Kambafwile, N.S. “An Evaluation of the Extent to which the law Protects Women in Employment against Gender Discrimination in Zambia,” MA. Dissertation, University of Zambia. 2011, p.10
22. Kasonde, F. Zambia Police Standing Order Lusaka: Government Printers, 2009
23. Kasonde, F. History and Reformation of Zambia Police Lusaka: UNZA, Press, 2002.
24. Marshall, G. “Barriers for Women in Law Enforcement, “MA. Dissertation Athabassa University, 2013.
25. Martin, S. and Jurik, N. Doing Justice, Doing Gender: Women in Legal and Criminal Justice Occupation, California: SAGE, 2007.
26. Morrison, C. J. “Towards Gender Equality in South African Policing,” unpublished paper, 2004. Mwansa, T.K. and Mumba, J.A. “Zambia Police and the changing society,” Zango, Journal of contemporary issues, University of Zambia, 1993.
27. Mhango, C. B. “Female Corner,” Nkhwazi Magazine, Vol.5:2 (July 1982): 33.
28. Mulenga, E. “Female Corner,” Nkhwazi Magazine, Vol.2. N0. 1 August 1983: 20. National Archives of Zambia: Box 122 Shelf 18, F. A. Hopkins, pp.1-5.
29. Mwaata, E. “A Close Look at a Woman Police Officer,” Police News Issue No.005, 2010: 2
30. Mwansa, D. “Gender and Agriculture Development in Zambia,” PhD. Dissertation, University of Zambia, 2017.
31. National Archives of Zambia: Box 122 Shelf 18, F. A. Hopkins, pp. 1-5.
32. National Archives of Zambia- BOX NO 124: 1966, D.C. Sadoki, Report on the Rebirth of Zambia Police, pp.3-6.
33. National Archives of Zambia - GOV ZAM, P7/058, Northern Rhodesia Annual Report of the year 1947, (Lusaka: Government. Printers, 1948), p.2.
34. National Archives of Zambia- GOV ZAM, P7/058 Northern Rhodesia Police: Northern Rhodesia Police Annual Report. (Lusaka: Government. Printers, 1949, p. 12.
35. National Archives of Zambia: Box 122 Shelf 18, F. A. Hopkins, A History of Northern Rhodesia Police in the Great War 1914-1918 (1923), p. 1.
36. National Archives of Zambia: Box 124 Northern Rhodesia Police Gazette: Zambia Police Annual Report for The year 1973.
37. Northern Rhodesia Police Annual Report for the year 1958, Lusaka: Govt. Printers, 1959.
38. Northern Rhodesia Police Annual Report for the year 1956, Lusaka: Govt. Printers, 1957.
39. Northern Rhodesia Police: Annual Report for the year 1948, Lusaka: Government. Printers, 1949.
40. NPF/UNWOMEN/UNFPA, For the Nigeria Police A Gender Policy Force. (Abuja: United Nations, 2010), p.65.
41. Prenzler, T. Fleming, J. and King, A. L. “Gender equity in Australian and New Zealand policing: A five year review,” International Journal of Police Science and Management 12,(2010), pp.584-5
42. United Nations, “Entity for Gender Equality and the Empowerment of Women in Zimbabwe,”24th October 2011 available on line @http: //un.org/conferences/women. Retrieved on 24/03/2014. Police Staff Writer, “Tracing Our Police Roots,” Nkhwazi Northern Rhodesia Police Magazine, Vol.5:1, 1 April 1988.
43. Rothman, N. C. “African Urban Development in the Colonial Period: A Study of Lusaka, 1905-1964,” PhD. Thesis, North Western University, 1972.
44. Shaba, T. “The Social – Economic Impact of the Mushala Rebellion in North Western Province of Zambia 1976-1990.” M.A. Dissertation, University of Zambia, 2019.
45. The Northern Rhodesia Police Hand Book Lusaka: Government. Printers, 1954, p.45.
46. Zambia Police Annual Report, Lusaka: Govt. Printers 1979.
Published
2023-11-27
How to Cite
Mangunga, F. and Phiri, B. (2023) “The Roles and Challenges of Policewomen in the Zambia Police 1966–1995”, Journal of Law and Social Sciences, 5(3), pp. 19-36. doi: https://doi.org/10.53974/unza.jlss.5.3.1125.
Section
Articles