Alliance Faces Gender Criticism

NGOCC questions women’s representation in Tonse Alliance leadership and 30% women’s participation pledge ahead of elections

By Francis Maingaila ♥️

Lusaka, Zambia24  -- (19-4-2026) -- The Non-governmental Gender Organisations' Coordinating Council has raised concern over gender imbalance in political leadership, questioning women’s representation within the Tonse Alliance despite its 30 percent women representation pledge.

The criticism comes as NGOCC observes a continuing gap between women’s visible participation in political events and their actual representation in decision-making structures, a concern it says remains significant as political parties prepare for the August 13 general elections.

Speaking after attending the Tonse Alliance manifesto launch as an observer, NGOCC Board Chairperson Beauty Katebe said the event reflected an imbalance between women’s participation and leadership representation.

She noted that although women were actively involved in welcoming and entertaining guests at the event, most of those seated at the high table were men.

“As we were walking in, I saw only women singing and dancing, yet those seated in front, on the high table, were mostly men,” Ms. Katebe said.

She said this highlights the need for deliberate action to ensure women are included not only in visible or supportive roles but also in decision-making positions within political structures.

“Let us change this narrative by being deliberate in ensuring women are included in the higher echelons of power,” she added.

Ms. Katebe attended the event alongside NGOCC Board Publicity Secretary Leah Mitaba as part of NGOCC’s monitoring programme on gender mainstreaming in political parties.

During the launch, the Tonse Alliance pledged to allocate 30 percent of leadership positions to women, a commitment NGOCC has acknowledged as a step in the right direction toward improving gender equality in politics.

However, NGOCC has stressed that such pledges must be backed by clear implementation frameworks and accountability measures to ensure they translate into actual representation rather than remain policy statements.

The organisation continues to engage political parties across the country, pushing for stronger and enforceable gender inclusion targets ahead of the upcoming elections.