Lusaka, Zambia | 21 April 2026 — The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), in partnership with the Gender Division, the Non‑Governmental Gender Organizations’ Coordinating Council (NGOCC), the Spotlight Initiative, the Electoral Commission of Zambia (ECZ), the Zambia Centre for Interparty Dialogue (ZCID), and UN Women convened a three‑day High‑Level Conference on Accelerated Women’s Political Participation and Leadership in Zambia, ahead of the 2026 General Elections.

Anchored within UNDP’s Africa Facility for Women in Political Leadership (AFWPL), the conference provides a national platform for evidence‑based dialogue, political commitment, and coordinated action to address the structural barriers hindering women’s participation in politics. These include patriarchal norms, gender‑based violence, limited access to campaign financing, exclusion from political party decision‑making structures, and inadequate media visibility.

With just four years remaining to the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, Zambia faces a critical challenge in achieving women’s full, equal, and effective participation in political leadership. Despite progressive policies and legal frameworks, women remain significantly underrepresented in decision‑making positions across the country.

In a speech read on his behalf by the Minister of Justice, Hon. Princess Kasune, the Republican President, Mr. Hakainde Hichilema, emphasized that inclusive governance is impossible without women’s leadership. The President noted that “when women participate fully, governance becomes more responsive and reflective of the realities of our people. When women lead, nations do not merely grow; they advance with purpose, balance, and vision.”

The President further noted that Zambia’s progress is inseparable from the progress of its women, stressing that “because we are serious about our future, we must be equally serious about dismantling the visible and invisible barriers that limit women’s full participation in leadership.”

Currently, women account for only 14 percent of Members of Parliament, 7.6 percent of councillors, 12.9 percent of mayors and council chairpersons, and 17.8 percent of Cabinet Ministers, including the Republican Vice President. This is despite the fact that women constitute the majority of Zambia’s population and electorate.

UNDP Resident Representative, Dr. James Wakiaga, underscored the urgency of the moment, stating: “As we gather today, we are acutely aware that only four years remain before the 2030 milestone for achieving the Sustainable Development Goals. This is not merely a countdown; it is a call to action. SDG 5 on gender equality and SDG 16 on inclusive governance remind us that democracy cannot be complete while half the population remains underrepresented in leadership.”

Dr. Wakiaga noted that the 13 August General Elections will be conducted under a new electoral framework that reserves seats for women, youth, and persons with disabilities marking a significant step forward. However, he cautioned that “laws and systems alone cannot deliver systemic change. What is required above all is sustained political will.”

UN Resident Coordinator Ms. Beatrice Mutali highlighted that while women make up more than half of Zambia’s population and the majority of registered voters, their representation in elected office remains far below parity. “This gap is not due to a lack of competence or ambition,” she said. “It reflects deeply rooted structural barriers that continue to limit women’s full participation in public life.”

NGOCC Board Chairperson Ms. Beauty Katebe noted that the persistent gap between women’s numbers and their representation in leadership is not accidental. “It is the result of systemic barriers patriarchal norms, restricted access to financial resources, gender‑based violence, including cyber‑bullying and sexual harassment, inadequate intra‑party support, and political networks that too often remain closed to women,” she said.

The conference brings together government leaders, political party secretaries‑general, women leaders, civil society organizations, media practitioners, development partners, and regional experts to:

• Identify legal, policy, and institutional barriers to women’s political participation

• Promote gender‑responsive political party reforms and affirmative action measures

• Address violence against women in politics, including cyber‑bullying and technology‑facilitated violence

• Share regional and international best practices for advancing women’s leadership

• Strengthen solidarity networks and coordinated advocacy

A key outcome of the conference will be the signing of a Charter for Accelerated Women’s Political Participation, committing political parties and stakeholders to concrete, time‑bound actions to promote gender parity in leadership and candidate selection. The Charter will align with AFWPL’s continental accountability framework, enabling sustained monitoring of Zambia’s progress toward inclusive governance by 2030.

Electoral Commission of Zambia Chairperson Mrs Mwangala Zaloumis said the conference is one of its kind, as it is a strategic response to the challenges faced by women in the country in participating effectively in our democracy. “This conference provides a platform that combines high-level dialogue, mentorship, and translate policy intentions into practical outcomes that strengthen inclusive governance and women’s agency.” 

UNDP in partnership with the Gender Division, the conference will also feature targeted sessions aimed at strengthening the capacity of women’s rights organizations and political actors to prevent and respond to violence against women and girls, including in political and digital spaces.

Meanwhile, in a virtual address, the UNDP Assistant Administrator and Regional Director for Africa, Ms. Ahunna Eziakonwa, emphasized that reserved seats must not be viewed as a ceiling for women’s leadership. She noted that the creation of 70 new constituencies presents an unprecedented opportunity for political parties to field more women candidates than ever before.

As Zambia approaches the 2026 General Elections the last before 2030 this conference marks a critical milestone toward transforming the country’s political ecosystem into one that values inclusivity, accountability, and gender justice, ensuring that women are not only participants, but drivers of democratic transformation and sustainable development.

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For more information and media interviews, contact:

Communications Analyst Mercy Khozi; mercy.khozi@undp.org

Senior Elections Advisor Takawira Musavengana; takawira.musavengana@undp.org 

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