The Non-Governmental Gender Organisations’ Coordinating Council (NGOCC) has intensified calls for political parties in Zambia to adopt more women in competitive constituencies ahead of the country’s August 13, 2026 general elections.
As political parties continue conducting adoption processes for parliamentary and local government candidates, the gender advocacy body says Zambia risks falling behind on its commitments to gender equality if women remain sidelined in key political contests.
NGOCC Board Chairperson Beauty Katebe said political parties must move beyond symbolic inclusion and ensure women are given realistic opportunities to secure elective office. According to the organisation, many women are often adopted in constituencies where parties have historically struggled to win, reducing their chances of entering Parliament or local councils.
Katebe stressed that political parties should field women in constituencies considered winnable if they are serious about promoting equal participation in governance.
“True inclusion requires more than token representation. Women must be placed in constituencies where they have a genuine opportunity to win and contribute meaningfully to national development,” she said during a statement released as the country gears up for next year’s polls.
Concerns Over Low Female Representation
The NGOCC’s concerns come amid continued debate over women’s representation in Zambia’s political leadership structures. Despite years of advocacy from civil society organisations and international partners, female participation in elective office remains significantly low.
According to governance statistics highlighted by the organisation, women accounted for less than 15 percent of members in the recently dissolved National Assembly. Representation at local government level has also remained below expectations, with women occupying only a small fraction of council seats across the country.
Gender activists argue that the low representation of women weakens inclusive decision-making and limits the diversity of voices shaping national policies. They say increasing the number of women in leadership positions is not only a matter of equality but also essential for balanced development and democratic governance.
The NGOCC believes Zambia has enough qualified women capable of holding public office and delivering effective leadership. The organisation revealed that it has already submitted lists of competent female candidates to political parties to support the adoption process.
According to the council, the challenge is not a lack of capable women but rather political systems and practices that continue to disadvantage female aspirants.
Call for Political Commitment
The organisation has now challenged all political parties participating in the 2026 elections to honour previous commitments to gender inclusion by ensuring that at least 30 percent of adopted candidates are women.
Katebe noted that political parties have repeatedly pledged to support women’s participation during public engagements and stakeholder meetings. However, she said such promises often fail to translate into actual candidate selections during elections.
She warned that continuing to sideline women from competitive seats undermines the country’s progress toward achieving equal representation in governance.
Political observers have also pointed out that women in Zambia often face multiple barriers during elections, including limited campaign financing, cultural stereotypes, political violence, and restricted access to party structures dominated by men.
Advocates say these challenges make it even more important for political parties to deliberately support women during candidate adoption and campaign periods.
Debate Over Proportional Representation Seats
The NGOCC also expressed concern about growing reliance on proportional representation (PR) seats as the primary route for women to enter Parliament.
Under Zambia’s electoral system, some seats are allocated through proportional representation to promote inclusivity for women, youth, and persons with disabilities. While the mechanism has increased representation for marginalized groups, NGOCC says it should not replace women’s participation in mainstream constituency races.
Katebe cautioned that limiting women to PR seats risks creating a system where women are viewed as secondary participants in politics rather than equal competitors.
“Restricting women to proportional representation seats alone risks structural exclusion disguised as inclusion,” she said.
The organisation insists that women should actively contest ordinary parliamentary constituencies alongside male candidates and receive equal support from their political parties.
International and Regional Commitments
NGOCC further reminded political parties and government institutions that Zambia is party to several international and regional agreements promoting gender equality.
These include the Southern African Development Community (SADC) Protocol on Gender and Development, which encourages member states to increase women’s participation in decision-making positions. Zambia is also committed to the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly Goal 5, which focuses on achieving gender equality and empowering women and girls.
Gender advocates argue that failing to increase women’s political participation could negatively affect Zambia’s standing on international development indicators.
Over the years, women’s organisations in Zambia have continued pushing for reforms aimed at creating a more inclusive political environment. Some stakeholders have proposed legal quotas for female candidates, while others believe political parties should voluntarily adopt internal policies guaranteeing greater representation for women.
Growing Pressure Ahead of Elections
With less than a year remaining before the 2026 general elections, pressure is mounting on political parties to demonstrate commitment to inclusive leadership.
Civil society organisations have indicated that they will closely monitor adoption processes and publicly highlight parties that fail to prioritize women candidates.
Political analysts believe the upcoming elections could become a major test of Zambia’s progress on gender equality in governance.
Many observers say increasing the number of women in Parliament and local councils could contribute to stronger advocacy on issues such as healthcare, education, child welfare, economic empowerment, and gender-based violence.
As campaigns begin to take shape across the country, NGOCC says it will continue engaging political parties, electoral stakeholders, and communities to promote equal participation of women in the democratic process.
The organisation maintains that Zambia cannot achieve meaningful development while women remain underrepresented in leadership and decision-making positions.
With adoption processes continuing across political parties, all eyes will now be on whether Zambia’s political landscape will finally open more competitive spaces for women ahead of the August 13, 2026 elections.
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