Minding my Father’s Country
Minding My Father’s Country follows Dr Dora Siliya’s intricate life managing public affairs in Zambia and juggling her personal and family responsibilities.
About the Book
Minding My Father’s Country follows Dr Dora Siliya’s intricate life managing public affairs in Zambia and juggling her personal and family responsibilities. Her political journey spanned two decades, and included four parliamentary election victories, two losses, and saw her serve under five presidents. She began her career in diplomatic service, after which she was appointed a government minister in six ministries.
In 2009, Dr Siliya was catapulted into the limelight (and much controversy) when she was brought to a tribunal concerning the ‘sale’ of the national telecoms. Later, in 2013, she gained further national attention when she was denied from contesting her parliamentary seat. Dr Siliya’s public life involved house searches, police detention, and court appearances. She was also the target of many political attacks and much social media attention.
In Minding My Father’s Country, Dr Siliya highlights her beginnings through her family and education. Her wide public exposure is also woven through intimate stories about her encounters in various capacities both locally and internationally.
This is a must-read for anyone who wishes to have crystal insight into Zambian politics and how business interests have come to be at the centre. Dr Siliya also provides readers with a clear account of her career roles and her viewpoints, making it an easy read for those who may be contemplating public life.
About the Author
Dora Siliya holds a PhD in Development Studies from the University of Lusaka in Zambia, for her regression analysis of election expenditure impact on agricultural public expenditure in Zambia which she termed the ‘Functionality burden on Democracy’. She attained an MPhil in Political Economy from the University of Cambridge in the UK and a BA in Mass Communication from the University of Zambia. Dr. Siliya also holds a certificate in Foundations of Management and Managing Information from Henley Management College in the UK.
In the last twenty years, Dr. Siliya has been an entrepreneur, a diplomat and a minister of government for trade, communication and transport, education, energy, agriculture and media. She was also a member of parliament from 2006 to 2021, the youngest, first female and longest serving MP for Petauke Central Constituency, where she was elected four times.
She is the co-founder of Platinum Communications Limited (PCL), a Media and Research consultancy firm founded in 2005. In 2020 PCL was contracted to co-organize the World Communications Association’s conference in Lusaka, the second in Africa, which was opened by then Vice President, Inonge Wina. The PCL also raised finance for the Netflix ‘Do you see us’ movie, released August, 2023. In September, 2023, Dr. Siliya gave the key note address at the EU-JRC during the Pan African Network for Economic Analysis of Policies on ‘Fostering African Food Sovereignty in a world of uncertainties
Dr. Siliya is a great champion of the African private sector, believing strongly, that the continent must produce/manufacturer more and increase intra-trade to create jobs for young people. She is currently working towards increase agro commodity trading and agro processing in Africa.
Dr. Siliya founded ‘Show You Care Foundation’ in 2015 an advocacy platform against child sexual abuse, support for girls’ education especially in SCIENCE, TECHNOLOGY, ENGINEERING and MATHEMATICS, as well as support to women entrepreneurs.
She is also a motivational speaker, a broadcaster, member of the Africa Business Round Table and fellow of the Cambridge Commonwealth Trust.
Tennis, cooking, reading and travelling are some of her hobbies.
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