A senior Zambian government official has reported that some political parties are asking aspiring female candidates for sexual favors in exchange for selection ahead of the upcoming general election in August. Mainga Kabika, head of the gender division in the president's office, made this revelation during a conference of state prosecutors, where she encouraged women to accurately record all such occurrences, stating, This is unacceptable.
While she did not disclose the names of the involved political parties, Kabika confirmed that women had contacted her about their experiences, stating, I receive a lot of messages; they are reporting that they are being asked for sexual favors in exchange for candidacy adoption.
This widespread issue, termed 'sextortion,' poses a significant barrier to women's political participation, with only 15% of MPs in Zambia being women. Beauty Katebe, chair of the Non-Governmental Gender Organisations Coordinating Council, emphasized that these practices discourage women from entering politics and called for a fast-track court to handle such allegations.
The involvement of high-profile female figures in the government, including Vice-President Mutale Nalumango, highlights some progress, but significant challenges remain. The issue of gender imbalance in Zambian politics reflects entrenched cultural biases and the urgent need for reforms to ensure women's representation in decision-making roles.
