Zambian Official Mainga Kabika Exposes Political Parties Demanding Sex from Female Candidates

A disturbing culture of “sextortion” is currently threatening the integrity of Zambia’s upcoming general election. Mainga Kabika, the head of the gender division within the Zambian presidency, has gone public with claims that aspiring female politicians are being coerced into providing sexual favors in exchange for party nomination. Speaking at a conference for state prosecutors, Kabika revealed that her office is being flooded with reports from women who say they have been targeted by unnamed political organizations ahead of the August 13 polls.

This scandal highlights the steep climb for women in a nation where they hold only 15% of parliamentary seats. While the Zambian government has celebrated high profile appointments like Vice President Mutale Nalumango, the broader political landscape remains dominated by what activists call deep rooted patriarchal barriers.

Beauty Katebe, chair of the Non-Governmental Gender Organisations Coordinating Council, described the situation as a major deterrent for women entering public service. She noted that many victims remain silent due to cultural stigma and the fear of public embarrassment.

To combat this systemic abuse, gender advocates are calling for the establishment of fast track courts to handle harassment allegations with speed and transparency. The presidency has previously acknowledged a massive gender gap in leadership, noting that a mere five out of 36 state owned enterprise CEOs are women.

As the election approaches, Kabika is urging all affected candidates to record and report these incidents, insisting that exposing the perpetrators is the only way to end the exploitation of women in Zambian politics.