The Editor Zambia
The Non-Governmental Gender Organizations’ Coordinating Council (NGOCC) is misguided and attempting to downplay the significant progress made on women representation in parliament.
Zambia has, for the first time in its history, 63 women in Parliament. This is a historic high. Twenty of the women have come through the proportional representation system. 
The 63 women in the national assembly accounted for 22.4 percent of the 281 seats. This is a significant increase from 15 percent in 2021 and above the previous high of 18 percent recorded in 2016.
This is a progressive provision deliberately introduced to address gender imbalances and ensure more women and other marginalised groups find space in the legislature.
To dismiss this achievement as “low” is not only inaccurate but deliberately misleading.
One would expect NGOCC, as a champion of women’s participation, to acknowledge this milestone and encourage more women to leverage the proportional representation window.
Instead, the organization appears determined to paint a picture of failure even where there is clear progress. What is the motive behind this persistent negativity?
The organisation’s motive begs the question whether NGOCC’s statements are driven by a genuine concern for women participation or by a need to remain relevant in the donor funding cycle where crisis narratives attract more support than success stories.
Celebrating 63 women would be acknowledging that the government has delivered on its promise to enhance women’s representation in Parliament.
Zambians should not be misled. From less than 20 women in previous Parliaments to 63 today. This is significant growth.
NGOCC should be helping the nation consolidate these gains and mentor the women now in Parliament to perform, rather than downplaying a historic achievement that many countries in the region are still struggling to attain.
It must be remembered that the same NGOCC that is now complaining about low numbers was among the loudest voices that campaigned against Bill 7, the very progressive legislation that has now delivered proportional representation and given Zambia 63 women in Parliament.
Had Bill 7 failed as they wished, the 20 women who entered Parliament through proportional representation would not have been achieved.
Zambia would still be lagging behind with minimal female representation.
NGOCC campaigned against progress, yet today they want to take the moral high ground to criticize the results of the same progress it opposed.
It is time for NGOCC to humbly acknowledge its shortfalls on Bill 7. Instead, the organisation should commend President Hakainde Hichilema for his courage and foresight in ensuring Bill 7 was passed and enacted into law.
President Hichilema delivered where activists failed the Zambian women. His leadership deserves recognition and comendation, not perpetual complaints.
