The number of female Members of Parliament in Zambia's National Assembly has now hit 20 following the election of three women during by-elections held last week.
On Thursday, three female MPs Victoria Kalima (Kasenengwa), Christabel Ngimbu (Zambezi West) and Margaret Miti (Vubwi) where elected following tightly contested for polls.
Margaret Miti |
Despite this huge achievement in the promotion of women participation in decision making, the number of male MPs is still higher than that of females.
Of the 158 MPs (both elected and nominated), Zambia has more than 125 male MPs.
Others elected where male MPs who included Dawson Kafwaya (Solwezi Central) and and Davies Chisopa (Mkushi South).
The elections retired Dr. Eustarkio Kazonga who represented the people of Vubwi for several years and was a Deputy and Cabinet Minister in the MMD.
Another old timer who was retired in the by-elections was Charles Kakoma who was in his second term in Zambezi West.
Christabel Ngimbu |
The elections retired Dr. Eustarkio Kazonga who represented the people of Vubwi for several years and was a Deputy and Cabinet Minister in the MMD.
Another old timer who was retired in the by-elections was Charles Kakoma who was in his second term in Zambezi West.
Below are statements from the women's movement congratulating the electorates for electing the female MPs:
PRESS STATEMENT
ZNWL ELATED AT THE ELECTION OF THREE WOMEN AS
MEMBERS OF PARLIAMENT
For Immediate
Release
12 September 2014
The
Zambia National Women’s Lobby is elated at the election of Ms. Victoria Kalima
(MMD), Ms. Margaret Miti (PF) and Ms. Christabel Ngimbu (PF) as Members of
Parliament for Kasenengwa, Vubwi and Zambezi -West respectively, in the recent
by elections. The number of women in Parliament has now increased from 17 to 20
and the percentage of women in Parliament now stands at 12.6% from 10.7%. We appeal
to the PF Government to appoint the newly elected women MPs into Cabinet to
further increase the number of women in decision making positions.
The
election of the three honourable members of parliament is testimony of the
progress made towards society’s acceptance of women as equal partner in
development.
We
commend their political parties for having afforded the three women an
opportunity to serve the nation at a high level and further extend our
gratitude to the people of these three constituencies for choosing women to
represent their interests.
We
urge the three members of parliament to work hard and diligently serve the
people who have placed their hopes and aspirations in their hands.
We
urge political parties to continue adopting women so that they have a chance of
serving at national decision making positions to bring about gender equality
which is a conduit for national development.
ZNWL
remains committed to enhancing the participation of women in leadership at
various levels and will continue to advocate and lobby for improved recognition
of women as equal partners in development.
BEAUTY
KATEBE (MS)
ZAMBIA
NATIONAL WOMEN’S LOBBY BOARD CHAIRPERSON
PRESS RELEASE
For Immediate Release
12th
September 2012
NGOCC CONGRATULATES NEWLY ELECTED FEMALE
PARLIAMENTARIANS
The Non Governmental
Organisations’ Coordinating Council (NGOCC) congratulates the three newly elected
female Members of Parliament, who were elected during the last round of by -elections
held on 11 September 2014.
As a movement, we are
glad that voters in the three constituencies have elected women to preside over
the constituencies.
Three out of the
five winners in the by-elections held in North Western,
central and eastern provinces are women, namely Ms. Christabel Ngimbu (Zambezi
West), Ms. Margret Miti (Vubwi), and Ms. Victoria Kalima (Kasenengwa).
NGOCC has been deeply concerned with
the low number of women in decision-making positions especially in Parliament
and Cabinet. It is totally unacceptable that 50 years after independence, only
four (4) women are Cabinet Ministers and 20 are Members of Parliament.
Hence we wish to congratulate all the
political parties that adopted women as candidates. We hope that they will
continue to adopt more women as their candidates especially as the country
prepares for the 2016 Presidential, Parliamentary, and Local Government
elections.
The election of the three in the last
by - elections is a further demonstration of the growing confidence the Zambian
people have in the leadership of women.
There is need
for the country to begin to formulate policies that will accelerate the
country’s attainment of the SADC Gender protocol of 50 – 50 representation for
both men and women by 2015.
for/NGOCC
Engwase B. Mwale
EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
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