Zambia’s High Commissioner Marks International Women’s Day in London
Zambia’s High Commissioner to the United Kingdom, Macenje Mazoka, joined female diplomats from the Zambian High Commission in London and women leaders from the London Borough of Hackney to commemorate International Women’s Day at an event held at Hackney Council Hall on Thursday.
Held under the 2026 theme “Give to Gain”, the gathering celebrated women’s leadership and highlighted the role of collective action in advancing gender equality, health and care, justice and rights.
Delivering the keynote address, Her Excellency Mazoka said the theme challenges conventional ideas about power and influence, emphasising that giving goes beyond financial contributions.
“Giving also means mentoring others into systems, roles and enterprises, using one’s platform to amplify women whose work often goes unseen, recommending women for opportunities and speaking out against discrimination and unfairness,” she said.
The High Commissioner stressed that meaningful giving involves sharing influence, credit and space with emerging voices that can drive change.
Reflecting on progress in Zambia, she noted that women are increasingly taking up leadership roles across government and professional sectors.
“Today, Zambian women serve as cabinet ministers, members of parliament, ambassadors, permanent secretaries and senior civil servants,” she said.
She added that women are also playing critical roles in science, technology and healthcare, leading research teams, engineering projects and clinical services.
According to the High Commissioner, these gains are the result of sustained advocacy by women and the support of leaders, including male allies, who have backed reforms and policies aimed at promoting gender equality.
Despite this progress, Mazoka acknowledged that many Zambian women still face barriers in education, employment and politics. She noted that women remain disproportionately represented in informal and low-paid work while being underrepresented in secure and senior positions.
“Zambia’s story, much like that of the United Kingdom, is one of real progress, yet equally, real unfinished work,” she said.
The High Commissioner also encouraged women leaders to support one another and resist attitudes rooted in fear of competition or replacement.
“You gain nothing by being the only woman in a space that does not change,” she said. “You gain nothing by being exceptional in a system that remains hostile to other women.”
She urged leaders to become catalysts for institutional transformation rather than rare exceptions within systems that resist change, encouraging them to build structures of solidarity that enable more women to rise.
Mazoka concluded by calling for the practical application of the “Give to Gain” principle in policy-making, budgeting, mentoring and everyday decision-making.
“When we give wisely and courageously, we do not lose,” she said. “We gain stronger organisations, healthier communities and more just societies.”
