I HELP YOUNG WOMEN AND GIRLS WHO ARE VICTIMS OF SEXUAL ABUSE TROUGH MY FOUNDATION. I CANNOT SELL YOUNG GIRLS FOR SEX - HON DORA SILIYA
I may be single, divorced with some failed relationships but that does not make me a high level prostitute
Lusaka Gazette
Minister of Information and Broadcasting Services, Hon. Dora Siliya was shocked to learn that she was a subject of serious allegations of human and sex trafficking which were broadcast on Social-media by a Chellah Tukuta.
Hon. Siliya said this in her testimony in the case where photographer Chella Tukuta is accused of making criminal and derogatory remarks posted on social media media against herself, Zambia Revenue Authority Commissioner General(ZRA), Kingsley Chanda, Northern Province Permanent Secretary, Charles Sipanje and Former Special Assistant to the President for Press and Public Relations, Mr Amos Chanda.
She said she was alerted about Chella Tukuta's videos and Facebook postings and had no knowledge of the Photographer.
In a an emotional testimony, Hon. Siliya stated that she is a servant of the people of Zambia who serves as a Cabinet Minister and Chief Government Spokesperson with a professional career spanning decades as a broadcaster to a Diplomat.
"We accept that things will be said in our area of work especially as politicians. And in the past I've paid a blind eye" she testified.
"However this is different because I' am being accused of selling human beings."
"One can accuse or criticize a person in their course of duty but to accuse me of selling humans and calling me the highest of high prostitutes is disgraceful, demeaning and an insult"
She said the videos have since gone viral on social-media and people close to her as friends and associates across the world, were calling her about the allegations made by Tukuta.
"To have my collegues across the globe call and ask me about these allegations, left me with no option but to take this course of action".
She also denied any involvement in the allegations calling them malicious and criminal.
"I don't sell humans, I don't sell sex for favours.. Am human and not infallible and I make mistakes but the allegations were shocking ""I may be single, divorced with some failed relationships, but that doesn't make me a high level prostitute who sells girls to high profile men." She said.
She said that although she is a Minister of Information and Broadcasting Services and promotes Freedom of Expression and Freedom of the Press, the law however, doesn't support hate speech, libel and other abuse of expression and the abuse of the media.
"Being Minister of Information and Broadcasting Services responsible for media, freedom of the press, I have no doubt or hesitation in making a clear distinction between accusing someone of a crime and freedom of expression".
She said over the years she has been a victim of hostile criticism but has never bothered to take anyone to court.
"And this is why over the years, many have said a lot about me but it did not boarder on being a crime, but to be accused of selling human beings, this was a serious crime". She said.
Ms. Siliya took time to give the Court her distinguished qualifications and career.
She graduated from Kabulonga Girls Secondary School as best student and proceeded to the University of Zambia (UNZA).
In her third year she gained acceptance to study for her Masters at Cambridge University in the United Kingdom.
She disclosed that the national broadcaster, ZNBC, employed her while she was a student at the University.
She said at the age of 29 years she was the youngest controller at ZNBC.
She said she has worked for the European union and created a good network of friends at home and internationally.
She also served as a diplomat and created a great network of friends internationally.
She testfied that she has served in various portfolios as Cabinet Minister, as Minister of Commerce, Minister of Transport and Communications, Minister of Education,Minister of Energy, Minister of Agriculture and now Minister of Information and Broadcasting Services and Chief Government Spokesperson.
She has also been a member of parliament since 2006.
She disclosed that since 2015, she has been doing philanthropy work through her foundation called "Show You Care".
She said she is also an advocate of women issues, especially young women with a bias to fighting sexual and gender-based violence and abuse.
She said she is a patron for "My Home Town- Zambian Chapter," a business network involving Zambia, South Africa, Zimbabwe, Argentina, USA, and UK.
She says she has committed to the cause to uplift young women through education and business.
She said her business Mano Restaurant, has organised high tea networking sessions and as a platform for Women in Businesses which has had international guests from the region.
She said it was for this reason that she felt strongly that the utterances by Mr Tukuta where injurious and damaging to her, accusing her of selling human beings for sex and selling herself for sex.
