A poor record on female representation means Zambia lags behind other sub-Saharan African countries. Extravagant electoral campaigns may be to blame.

In September 2011, no one in Zambia could have missed that the country was in the midst of a heavily contested election. The country was awash with party paraphernalia that adorned street corners and supporters alike.

We invite you to read the full article published September 13, 2013

The women movement is advocating for a female national vice-president this year. But the women movement was also doubtful that political parties would adopt females as presidential candidates in this years’ elections. Meanwhile, Matrine Chuulu said it was possible to attain the 50/50 representation in decision making positions by 2015 as the women had put in place strategies to ensure the mark was reached.

National Women’s Lobby Group (NWLG) has embarked on a training programme to make political women candidate’s credible leaders as they go into campaigns. In an interview at Choma’s Riverside Lodge where 45 women drawn from different political parties in Southern Province met, NWLG vice-chairperson Hellen Kalikeka said she was looking at a situation where more women would offer themselves to aspire for different political offices during this year’s elections.

A Parliamentarian has called on Women to stand as one and support each other to take up leadership positions as they have motherly hearts and can contribute to the social and economic development in the country.
 

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Mirriam Kauseni is on a quest to become her town’s first ever female parliamentarian. She has yet to be elected to run for the post by her party, the Patriotic Front (PF), but Kauseni has already been conducting door-to-door campaigns, telling people to vote for her in the country’s national elections.