NGOCC Condemns Sexist Attacks on Women in 2026 Elections
The Non-Governmental Gender Organisations Coordinating Council (NGOCC) has strongly condemned sexist and discriminatory remarks aired on Simon Mwewa Lane Television on Friday, 9 January 2026, which suggested that a single woman is “unworkable” for the position of Mayor and that the office should be reserved for a “family man”.
In a statement issued by NGOCC Chairperson Beauty Katebe, the organisation said such remarks go beyond political opinion and amount to a direct violation of the Zambian Constitution and the Gender Equity and Equality Act No. 22 of 2015.
NGOCC warned that using marital status as a measure of leadership fuels Violence Against Women in Elections (VAWE) and entrenches harmful patriarchal stereotypes.
As Zambia prepares for the 13 August 2026 General Elections, NGOCC noted with concern that sexist rhetoric is increasingly being used to intimidate women and discourage them from contesting presidential, parliamentary and local government positions.
Ms Katebe emphasised that judging women’s leadership capabilities based on their private lives, a standard not applied to men, constitutes psychological violence and undermines democratic participation.
She further observed that such language emboldens online harassment and shifts political debate away from policy and competence towards personal attacks on female candidates.
The organisation has called for an unconditional retraction from Simon Mwewa Lane Television and urged all political parties to enforce zero-tolerance policies against sexist campaigning.
Ms Katebe also appealed to the Electoral Commission of Zambia (ECZ) to actively monitor and sanction breaches of the Electoral Code of Conduct related to discriminatory speech.
In addition, she encouraged voters to reject divisive narratives and to assess leaders based on vision, integrity and competence rather than gender or marital status.
“The leadership of a woman is not a threat to the family or the nation; it is an asset,” Ms Katebe said.
As part of efforts to promote peaceful and inclusive elections, she urged members of the public to report all forms of violence, including verbal, psychological, physical and electoral violence, through the toll-free helpline 116. All reported cases will be documented and referred to the relevant authorities.
Ms Katebe reaffirmed NGOCC commitment to ensuring that the 2026 elections are free, fair and safe for all candidates, regardless of gender or marital status.
