Women's Movement Fears Voter Apathy In Zambia's Presidential Poll

By Paul Shalala

Women at a recent Gender Conference 

A survey in 77 districts across Zambia has shown that several people, mostly women and children, will be defranchised due to their failure to replace their voters cards.

The survey, which was commissioned by the Zambia National Women's Lobby, indicates that most people in rural areas were told to replace their voters cards in constitituencies were they initially registered in 2010.

"Some women also reported that there was also not much publicity on the exercise and some people, especially in rural areas, were not aware that the process was being done," read part of the report.

Below is a statement from the organisation:

PRESS STATEMENT

ZNWL CALLS ON ECZ TO IMPLEMENT THE

 CONTINUOUS REGISTRATION OF VOTERS

For immediate release                                                        15^th January 2015

The Zambia National Women’s Lobby has observed that many eligible voters will be disenfranchised in the January 20^th presidential election by the narrow criteria, and the short period of time allocated for the replacement of voters’ cards.

A survey conducted in 77 constituencies by the Zambia National Women’s Lobby revealed that some people, especially women, failed to have their voters cards replaced because they were advised to have their cards replaced in districts where they originally registered and most of them had no resources to travel. Other women, especially in rural areas, said they were hampered by the rains, as they were either busy cultivating or could not have access to the centres due to the heavy rains. The people also cited the challenge of the replacement centres being few as some people in far flung areas were unable to access them. Some women also reported that there was also not much publicity on the exercise and some people, especially in rural areas, were not aware that the process was being done.

The Zambia National Women’s Lobby is of the view that the Electoral Commission of Zambia (ECZ) could have begun the voters’ replacement exercise much earlier to allow as many citizens as possible to replace their voters’ cards. The ECZ should also have  done a lot of publicity on the process, especially in rural parts of the country.

We note from the information released by the ECZ that from the number of voters who have managed to replace their cards, only 18,553 women were successful as opposed to 33,545 men. This is despite women being the majority voters in Zambia. Such a discrepancy calls for an investigation into why fewer women as compared to men were not able or not willing to have their cards replaced so that they could take up their right to vote. The women of Zambia deserve an equal and equitable share and participation in the electoral process of Zambia.

After this election, we urge the ECZ to urgently consider implementing the continuous voter registration and replacement of voters’ cards as stipulated in the Electoral Act No. 12 of 2006. This is in order to ensure that all Zambians are able to fully exercise their democratic right of voting during all future elections.

Meanwhile, Zambia National Women’s Lobby calls upon all eligible voters, especially women, to turn up enmasse and vote in this election on the 20^th January. This is a very important election to the nation and should not be shunned by any eligible voter.

We also urge political party leaders in the country to counsel their political party members to avoid any acts of violence as the country prepares to vote on 20^th January.

Zambia is renowned as one of Africa’s strongest democracies and it is our hope that this election is conducted in a free and fair manner.  We call upon unsuccessful political party leaders to concede defeat gracefully while remaining committed to the development of Zambia.

JULIET KAIRA CHIBUTA (MS)

ZAMBIA NATIONAL WOMEN’S LOBBY EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR

Female Councillors Call For 50% Adoption Of Women In Elections

Councillors and Gender activists at the conference

By Paul Shalala

80 female Councillors from various active political parties have called for a legal framework that will compel various players in politics to implement a 50-50% representation of both men and women to consolidate democracy.

 In a communique read on Friday by Kawambwa District Council Chairperson Angela Sichone at the just ended national conference for women in politics held at Andrews Motel in Lusaka, the female councillors have argued that if this legal framework is enacted, it will help the nation consolidate its thriving democracy.

Ms Sichone revealed that the female councillors have also called on all active political parties to review their manifestos and provide 50% adoption rate for women parliamentary and local government candidates.

"Gender equity and equality must be enshrined in the national constitution to ensure 50-50 representation of both men and women to ensure the consolidation of democracy in Zambia," said Sichone, who is also a female councillor in in the male dominated Kawambwa District Council of Luapula Province.

The two day conference was organised by the Zambia National Women's Lobby who brought three female Councillors from Finland who shared their experiences of female politics in the Scandinavian country.

And ruling Patriotic Front Director for Media and Publicity Brian Hapunda says the ruling party is ready to adopt the proposal as it views women as partners in development.

"Our commitment to increasing the number of women in decision making positions can be seen from our adoption of women candidates in Vubwi and Zambezi West who won us parliamentary seats earlier this month," said Hapunda.

But the National Democratic Party says the proposal is not workable because political parties adopt candidates on popularity basis and not on gender.

"Political parties adopt parliamentary and local government candidates based on their strength and popularity. We cant adopt candidates just because they are women even when they are unpopular. This proposal cant work," said Edwin Zulu, Secretary General of the National Democratic Party.


Zambia has one of the lowest number of female legislators in the world.

Of the 150 elected members of parliament, only 20 are women and of the total 1,444 Councillors countrywide, only 84 are women.

None of the female councillors is a Mayor and among female MPs, only four are Full Ministers in a Cabinet of 22 Ministers.

The biggest challenge for women to become elected leaders is the low adoption rate of women among political parties.

In 2011, less than 50 women were adopted by various political parties to contest the 150 seats in Parliament.

In the run upto the 2016 general elections, the Zambia National Women's Lobby has started conducting mentoring workshops for female politicians who are aspiring to contest as councillors and members of parliament.

This is in a bid to increase the number of women in District Councils and Parliament in 2016.

Zambia's Female MPs Now Reach 20 After Recent By-Elections

Victoria Kalima

By Paul Shalala

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

The by-elections where a trendsetter as more than 4 females where adopted to contest the 5 seats.

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).

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

12^th 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