A senior Zambian government official has disclosed that some political parties were soliciting sexual favors from prospective female candidates in exchange for selection ahead of August's general election.
I am going to appeal to all female aspiring candidates to ensure that they record all these cases, Mainga Kabika, the head of the gender division in the president's office, announced recently.
While she did not specify which political parties were involved, Kabika indicated that numerous women had reached out to her, expressing their experiences of being coerced into such arrangements.
She stated, 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.
Beauty Katebe, chair of the Non-Governmental Gender Organisations Coordinating Council, echoed the concerns, warning that this situation discourages women from participating in politics. She urged victims to report such cases, despite acknowledging the cultural biases and personal embarrassment associated with such disclosures.
Katebe called for a fast-track court to quickly address these allegations and stronger laws to deter sexual harassment directed at women. She emphasized, If they were being exposed, they would definitely stop, referring to the alleged perpetrators.
The gender imbalance in Zambian politics is striking, with women holding only 15% of parliamentary seats, reflecting deep-rooted cultural and structural barriers, as noted by the presidency last year. The government has acknowledged the need for improvement in women's representation, but significant challenges remain to be addressed.
The general election in Zambia is set for August 13, where citizens will elect a president, Members of Parliament (MPs), councillors, and council chairs.
