A senior Zambian government official has claimed that some political parties are requesting sexual favors from aspiring female candidates in exchange for election nominations ahead of the general elections in August.
Mainga Kabika, the head of the gender division in the president's office, made the remarks during a conference aimed at state prosecutors, urging women to document these occurrences. She indicated that she had been contacted by several women who reported being propositioned.
I can confirm to you right now that 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 favors in exchange for adoption [as candidates], and this is unacceptable, Kabika stated.
This troubling trend reflects larger issues within Zambia's political landscape, where there is a significant gender disparity. Only around 15% of the members of parliament in Zambia are women. The presidency's previous statements pointed to deep-rooted cultural and structural barriers that hinder women's political participation.
Beauty Katebe, chairwoman of the Non-Governmental Gender Organisations Coordinating Council, highlighted the issue of sextortion, calling for affected women to come forward and report their experiences. She emphasized that cultural biases contribute to women feeling embarrassed and reluctant to speak out.
Katebe proposed establishing a fast-track court to expedite cases of sexual harassment, arguing that transparency is essential to discourage such behavior among political party members. If they were being exposed, they would definitely stop, she said.
Despite some high-profile female appointments in politics, there remains a considerable distance to travel towards achieving gender equality. For instance, the presidency noted that while 28% of civil service directors are women, only five out of 36 CEOs of state-owned enterprises are female.
The general elections, set for August 13, will see Zambians voting for a president, members of parliament, and local government representatives.
