A senior Zambian government official has revealed that some political parties are asking aspiring female candidates for sexual favours in exchange for nominations ahead of the general elections scheduled for August. This alarming situation was disclosed by Mainga Kabika, the head of the gender office in the presidency, during a conference for state prosecutors.
Kabika called on female candidates to document such instances, stating, I am actually receiving a lot of messages; some of them are already on record… they are reporting that they are already being asked for sexual favours in exchange for adoption [as candidates], and this is unacceptable. The official did not identify the political parties involved in these allegations.
Women make up only about 15% of Zambia's Members of Parliament (MPs), reflecting significant gender disparities in the political sphere. A statement from the president's office highlighted that this imbalance is rooted in cultural and structural issues, making it essential to address the barriers women face in political participation.
Beauty Katebe, who chairs the Non-Governmental Gender Organizations Coordinating Council, added that many women experience 'sextortion' during the nomination process and emphasized the importance of reporting such abusive practices. She proposed establishing a fast-track court to handle allegations quickly and called for stricter laws against sexual harassment.
Additionally, while recognizing recent high-profile female appointments in politics, the president's office acknowledged that a substantial gender gap persists in leadership positions, with only 28% of civil service directors being women and just five out of the 36 CEOs of state-owned enterprises being female.
As the country prepares for the upcoming elections on August 13, activists urge increased support for women aspiring to enter politics, aiming to enhance their representation and ensure a safe and fair political environment.
