NGOCC WANTS MORE WOMEN IN POWER



Katebe urges Hichilema to use nominated parliamentary seats and Cabinet appointments to increase women’s representation in decision-making

By Francis Maingaila ♥️

Lusaka, Zambia24 — 3-09-2026 --  The Non-governmental Gender Organisations Coordinating Council (NGOCC) has urged President Hakainde Hichilema to use his constitutional power to nominate more women to Parliament and appoint more women to Cabinet and other senior decision-making positions.

NGOCC Board Chairperson Beauty Katebe said the move was necessary to address the continued under-representation of women in Parliament and other key positions of leadership.

Ms Katebe said preliminary election results show that the number of women elected to Parliament remains well below the 50 percent target.

She has therefore called on President Hichilema to deliberately use his power to nominate 11 Members of Parliament to increase the number of women in the National Assembly, in line with Zambia’s obligations under the SADC Protocol on Gender and Development.

Ms Katebe also urged the President to appoint more women to Cabinet and other senior government positions, noting that successive governments have continued to record low levels of female participation in decision-making.

She commended President Hichilema for his conciliatory tone towards opposition supporters and his call for all Zambians, including those who did not vote for him, to work together.

However, Ms Katebe said people detained in connection with the just-ended elections should be brought before the courts without delay, saying this would contribute to a genuine process of national healing.

On President Hichilema’s newly unveiled “Grow Zambia” agenda, Ms Katebe said economic growth must translate into tangible improvements in the lives of ordinary Zambians.

She noted that women constitute a significant proportion of Zambia’s poor and cautioned that economic growth should not remain confined to national statistics.

“Expansion must indeed be felt in our homes, not only in national statistics,” Ms Katebe said.

Ms Katebe wished President Hichilema wisdom, peace and steadfastness as he begins his second term, while urging him to lead with humility, inclusiveness and an unwavering commitment to the wellbeing of all Zambians.

She also called on citizens to play their part in building a united, peaceful and prosperous Zambia.

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