A senior Zambian government official has stated that some political parties have been asking prospective female candidates for sexual favors in exchange for selection ahead of the upcoming elections in August.
Mainga Kabika, the civil service head of the gender office in the presidency, urged all female aspiring candidates to record such instances. '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,' she said.
Zambia has a significant gender imbalance in national politics, with women making up only about 15% of MPs. This under-representation is attributed to deep-rooted cultural and structural barriers.
Beauty Katebe, chair of the Non-Governmental Gender Organisations Coordinating Council, confirmed the troubling nature of these demands, which discourage many women from participating in politics. She called for the establishment of a fast-track court to manage claims and emphasized the necessity for stricter laws against sexual harassment.
The president's office had previously acknowledged that while there have been notable female appointments in politics, such as Vice-President Mutale Nalumango, substantial improvements are still needed.
The general election in Zambia is scheduled for 13 August, where voters will elect a president, members of parliament, councillors, and council chairs.
