A senior Zambian government official has stated that some political parties are requesting sexual favors from aspiring female candidates in exchange for nominations ahead of the upcoming general election set for August. Mainga Kabika, head of the gender division in the president's office, urged all female candidates to document these occurrences and report them, although she refrained from naming the implicated political parties.

Zambia struggles with significant gender imbalances within its political framework, with only about 15% of Members of Parliament being women, a disparity attributed to entrenched cultural and structural barriers. Kabika mentioned during a conference for state prosecutors that multiple women had reached out regarding these extortion requests, calling the situation as unacceptable and detrimental to female participation in politics.

Beauty Katebe, chair of the Non-Governmental Gender Organisations Coordinating Council, echoed these sentiments and mentioned that such 'sextortion' has deterred many women from participating actively in politics. She encouraged victims to speak out despite the inherent challenges, including cultural biases and the stigma attached to reporting sexual harassment.

Katebe recommended establishing a fast-track court to deal with such allegations rapidly and emphasized the need for stricter laws against sexual harassment to foster a safer political environment for all women. The latest outcry reflects a broader recognition of the barriers women face in Zambian politics, from low representation in government roles to overt exploitation during the nomination process.