Non-governmental Gender Organisations' Coordinating Council

28/09/2026

PHOTO FOCUS :

The Ziko Lathu Consortium, comprising ActionAid Zambia, NGOCC, Panos Institute Southern Africa, MISA Zambia, CCMG, Young Women in Action, and Global Platform Zambia Network, recently launched the 2026 Election Monitoring Report at Global Platform Zambia in Lusaka.

26/09/2026

NGOCC is currently conducting a two-day training for young women from women’s rights organisations to strengthen their capacity to identify, prevent and respond to violence against women and girls (VAWG).

The training brings together participants from YWCA, Katete District Women Development Association, Mothers Without Borders, and Christimiso Circle of Life, equipping them with skills to strengthen GBV reporting, challenge harmful gender norms and advocate for the rights of women and girls.

Speaking at the opening, Gender Division Senior Programme Officer Ms Anita Muteto emphasised the importance of collaborative efforts in preventing GBV and addressing gender discrimination.

The training is being conducted under Spotlight Initiative 2.0 in Katete and Chipangali districts and includes an orientation on GBV laws and child protection.

24/09/2026

Splendid!

Well Done Young Women in Action 👏👏

22/09/2026

21/09/2026

Join NGOCC Executive Director on Phoenix Fm at 9:00hrs tomorrow.

21/09/2026

NGOCC CALLS FOR ACCOUNTABILITY TO ADDRESS BARRIERS TO WOMEN’S POLITICAL PARTICIPATION

By Chibesa Cecilia Mungulube

NGOCC Executive Director Ms. Anne Mbewe- Anamela has called for greater accountability from political parties and other stakeholders in addressing the structural, financial and socio-cultural barriers limiting women’s participation in politics.

Ms. Anamela said there was need to move beyond documenting the challenges women face during elections and focus on concrete action, including holding political parties accountable to their commitments on gender quotas and strengthening support for women leaders throughout the governance cycle.

“We must hold political parties accountable to their pledges regarding gender quotas. We must advocate for the full implementation of progressive legal and policy frameworks.

And we must build a sustainable, continuous support system for women leaders, not just a few months before an election, but throughout the entire governance cycle,” Ms. Anamela said.

And Ms. Anamela added that women candidates were the “real heroes” of the electoral process and needed to be heard on issues surrounding political party adoptions, campaign financing, media coverage and community dynamics.

She stressed that Zambia’s democracy could not be considered fully inclusive when women, who constitute more than half of the country’s population, remained underrepresented in political decision-making positions.

Ms. Anamela noted that more than 750 female aspirants had expressed interest in contesting during the 2026 electoral cycle, but the number of women who were eventually adopted and elected fell short of expectations and national targets.

Ms. Anamela was speaking on Tuesday during the Post-Election Reflection and Review Meeting on Women’s Participation in the 2026 General Elections, where stakeholders reflected on women’s experiences during the electoral process.

20/09/2026

PRESS STATEMENT
For Immediate release
20th September 2026

WOMEN’S REPRESENTATION IN THE NATIONAL ASSEMBLY STILL FAR BELOW PARITY DESPITE GAINS

ISSUED
For/NGOCC

Ms. Anne Mbewe-Anamela
NGOCC EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR

20/09/2026

PRESS STATEMENT
For Immediate release
20th September 2026

WOMEN’S REPRESENTATION IN THE NATIONAL ASSEMBLY STILL FAR BELOW PARITY DESPITE GAINS

The Non-governmental Gender Organisations' Coordinating Council (NGOCC) has noted the validation of the 40 seats allocated under the Proportional Representation (PR) system by the Electoral Commission of Zambia (ECZ). Of these 40 seats, 26 have been allocated to female Members of Parliament (MPs).

When combined with the 34 female elected MPs, as well as the positions held by the Vice President, Speaker, and Deputy Speaker, the total number of women in the National Assembly now stands at 63 out of 281 seats. This represents 22.4 percent of total parliamentary representation, reflecting notable progress from 15 percent in 2021 and surpassing the previous highest level of 18 percent recorded in 2016.

However, this picture is not yet final, as the Lumezi North and Mandevu by-elections are yet to be concluded, while six of the 11 parliamentary nominations available to the President remain outstanding. It is our hope that these remaining opportunities will further increase the number of female MPs in the National Assembly.

It is also noteworthy that over the years, NGOCC has long advocated for a more representative National Assembly in which women, youth and persons with disabilities (PwDs) can speak to their own issues.

While the numbers have relatively increased, National Assembly has also expanded from 168 to 281 seats, meaning these gains still fall far short of expectations.

Under the SADC Protocol on Gender and Development, to which Zambia is a party, state parties are expected to ensure equal and effective representation of women in decision-making across political, public and private sectors. Women remain far from the framework’s 50-50 gender parity commitment.

Further, NGOCC wishes to congratulate all female MPs under the PR seats. We urge you to be flag bearers for the issues affecting the marginalised groups that you represent.
ISSUED
For/NGOCC

Ms. Anne Mbewe-Anamela
NGOCC EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR

19/09/2026

As it stands, there are 63 female Members of Parliament out of 281 Seats representing about 22.4percent.

18/09/2026

NGOCC Joins UN Consultants to Monitor Activities in Chipangali and Chinsali

The Non-governmental Gender Organisations’ Coordinating Council (NGOCC) joined consultants from the United Nations Zambia Framework, alongside other stakeholders, in Chipangali District as part of the United Nations Sustainable Development Cooperation Framework (UNSDCF) evaluation exercise.

During the monitoring mission, the team assessed various initiatives being implemented under the framework, including the Spotlight Initiative. The exercise aimed to evaluate the achievements, challenges, and opportunities for strengthening the impact of these interventions within the community.

The findings from the evaluation will contribute to enhancing programme effectiveness and ensuring that interventions continue to address the needs of community members while promoting sustainable development outcomes.