Langiwe:Women's role model

Langiwe

By DOREEN NAWA

WOMEN are forever being asked if they can successfully combine family and a career life.

So is motherhood a barrier to a successful career?

For Langiwe Hope Lungu, the Energy Regulation Board (ERB) Executive Director, the answer is No….

Being married and a mother of seven (three biological), Ms Lungu says managing the two (family and career) is rough but it calls for focus and determination.

“I have to be a role model for my children and if I give up my career because of motherhood, then how will I inspire them….For me I strike a balance, I have quality time with my family whenever opportunity presents itself, especially when I am off duty,” Ms Lungu says.

Prior to her taking up the new job, Ms Lungu acted as ERB executive director from March to May this year.

“I acted for three months in this position and when the position was advertised, I applied for it and was picked through a competitive recruitment process. I was the only female out of the six of us who were shortlisted and I was picked and not appointed like most people think,” Ms Lungu said.

Born on June 2, 1968 from John Kalengo Chisulo Lungu and Regina Mtemeri Lungu, Ms Lungu is the only surviving female child and has three brothers.

“I am the only female child and I had an older sister who passed on. I have three brothers named Kalengo, Milingo and Musango after me,” she says.

Ms Lungu started school in 1974 at Kabwe Convent and completed her secondary school at Fatima Girls Secondary school in 1985.

In 1987, she went to University of Zambia (UNZA) where she obtained a Bachelors of Arts Degree in Economics and Development Studies and graduated with a merit in 1990.

Three years later on December 15, 1993, she joined the Ministry of Energy as Executive officer.

Her late father, a Zambia Railways  General Manager in Ndola at that time  is the reason for her ambitions.

“I have always believed in myself and I once envied being an airhostess and my dad challenged me to be a pilot. He told me to aim to be the doctor and not the nurse, the manager and not the secretary. And with such a mentor, I have always aimed high,” she said.

Ms Lungu is not new to ERB, prior to being executive Director, she was seconded by the ministry of Energy and Water Development to set up the ERB between 1997 and 1998.

“I was seconded by the ministry in 1997 to set up ERB and I was the defacto first chief executive officer,” she said.

Ms Lungu has over 20 years working in the ministry of Energy and Water Development, having held the positions of Energy economist, Senior Energy Economist, Senior Water Planner, Senior Energy Officer , Special Energy Adviser to the Permanent Secretary and the last position  she held was Principal Energy officer.

With the over 20 years of experience in the energy sector, Ms Lungu has handled key assignments in various sub sectors such as electricity, petroleum and renewable and alternative energy sources of energy.

Some of the key assignments include being part of the team set up to review the Sixth National Development Plan and aligning it to the Patriot Front manifesto. Ms Lungu was also part of the team set up for the drafting and compilation of the 1994 and 2008 National Energy Policy.

“I have handled quiet a number of key assignments in the energy sector like economic, gender and policy related. I was also part of a team set up by one of the former president through cabinet office to identify challenges in ZESCO and recommend solutions,” Ms Lungu said.

Currently, Ms Lungu is pursing a  Master of Arts in Business Administration at the University of Liverpool.

Ms Lungu has also pursued a Master of Arts degree  in Gender Studies at UNZA where she combined her passion for gender balanced development and energy. The focus of the thesis is on the Nyimba Energy Service Company pilot project to determine what impact it had on men and women in relation to its set objectives.

Asked how she starts her day, Ms Lungu responded…..”As a Christian, I start my day with praise and worship and acknowledging the Lord’s grace and favour upon my life. Whilst listening to music, I check for what the children will eat at school and leave instructions to my house assistant on what to prepare for the family. Once all this is done, I prepare myself and in a few minutes, I will be ready to go for work.”

 “Once at the office, I draw up a diary for the day which is drawn from my weekly plan and ultimately the Strategic Business Plan. I check what was not done for the previous day and then continue with what is in my in-tray,” Ms Lungu added. My day ends with dinner with my family and prayer.

Leaving a legacy,  according to ERB’s mission statement which reads…..“To regulate the energy sector in a fair, transparent and predictable manner that safeguards the interests of all stakeholders," is what is on her wish list.

“Women regularly report that their professional prospects are limited by taking time off to have children. Some women say that if they make a clear choice to be a full-time mother, they are seen by others (often women themselves) - as having made the wrong choice. But for me, that is not an issue, what matters is your zeal towards your ambitions,” Ms Lungu said.