More Women Expected to Participate in 2026 Elections

More women are expected to participate in the 2026 General Elections as a result of progress made in cracking down on political violence, a government official has said.

Taking part in a panel discussion at the UN’s Commission on the Status of Women event in New York, Gender Division Permanent Secretary in the Office of the President Mainga Kakiba said, “the current President has made sure that he eradicates violence in politics”.

“We’ve had by-elections in the past three years and we’ve seen that violence has actually declined,” she added.

“This is a plus for this government and the President has made it clear that even as we go in the next general election, which is next in 2026, there will be no violence.”

The event marked 30 years since the adoption of the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action on women’s rights. During an event co-hosted by the Zambian government, Ministry of Community Development Permanent Secretary Angela Kawandami said she was proud of the progress the country had made since then.  

“The achievements my country has made in the last thirty years speak to the significance of the Beijing Declaration and platform for action and its efficacy with promoting gender equality, “ she explained.

More women are expected to participate in the 2026 elections compared to 2021, both as voters and as candidates for office. The government has said one of its intended changes to the constitution, which are due to be published soon, will include provisions to include more female MPs in Parliament.