NGOCC Urges Government to Address Gender Disparities in Zambia
Written by Mafken FM Newsroom on 23 December 2024
By Anthony Chomba
The Non-Governmental Gender Organisations’ Coordinating Council (NGOCC) has called on government and other stakeholders to take immediate action to address gender disparities and promote women’s involvement in Zambia’s social, economic, and political sectors.
Speaking during a media briefing in Lusaka, NGOCC Board Chairperson, Beauty Katebe, reflected on the progress made in 2024 and outlined the council’s expectations for 2025.
Ms. Katebe highlighted what they have observed to be a persistently low representation of women in elected positions, citing insufficient political will and an unequal political framework as key barriers.
She stressed the need for stronger safety nets to combat food insecurity, rising costs, and the challenges faced by women running small-scale businesses.
While recognizing government initiatives like the Cash-for-Work program, Ms. Katebe called for more targeted interventions to better support vulnerable populations.
NGOCC has further advocated for legal reforms to ensure proportional representation, greater participation of female candidates in the 2026 elections, more robust measures to combat gender-based violence (GBV), and stronger responses to the impact of drought on women.
