Traditional Leaders in Kazungula Commit to Advancing Women’s Leadership at the Local Level
Traditional Leaders in Kazungula Commit to Advancing Women’s Leadership at the Local Level
In a transformative effort to promote inclusive, gender responsive governance, the Local Government Association of Zambia (LGAZ), under the auspices of the Partnerships for Municipal Innovation - Women in Local Leadership (PMI-WILL) project, organised a structured engagement with traditional leaders in Kazungula district.
Held earlier today at Kasbek Lodge in Kazungula the event brought together four senior traditional leaders, namely, Senior Chief Musokotwane, Chief Nyawa, Chieftainess Moomba, and Chief Sekute, to explore innovative local solutions to the persistent problem of under-representation of women and other marginalised groups such as persons with disabilities in leadership and decision-making roles in local governance
LGAZ President, His Worship Councillor Vincent Lilanda, set the tone for the discussions, highlighting the urgency of dismantling barriers that hinder women’s leadership. “Zambia, like many other developing nations, faces a concerning underrepresentation of women in decision-making roles. Women hold only 7.9% of local government elective positions—just 155 out of 1,974 seats. This stark reality means that women's perspectives and interests remain marginalized unless we take urgent action,” he stated.
He emphasized that increasing women’s representation in governance is critical for sustainable development. “As LGAZ, we firmly believe that having more women in decision-making structures will ensure their needs and interests are integrated into governance processes. We are grateful to the Canadian Government, through Global Affairs Canada and the Federation of Canadian Municipalities, for supporting this initiative, which seeks to empower marginalized women to take up leadership roles,” he added.
Speaking at the meeting, Chieftainess Moomba observed that “women have already proved that they are good managers, evident in the multiple roles they play and the manner they manage households with limited resources and thus should be encouraged to take up decision making roles in local government.”
Echoing the call for action, Kazungula Council Chairperson, Councillor Tatila Mbozi, bemoaned the democratic paradox facing the country. “While Zambia has a strong democratic foundation with free elections and peaceful transitions of power, women's participation in elections remains alarmingly low. Women make up 53% of registered voters, yet only 7.9% of elected local government leaders are women. This highlights the urgent need to dismantle barriers to greater representation of women in key leadership and decision-making roles,” she noted.
The Council Chairperson further urged all stakeholders to contribute to fostering an environment where female leadership was not just tolerated but actively encouraged. “We must work together to create an environment where women’s leadership is not just accepted but celebrated. The strength of our local governance depends on inclusivity, and gender balance,” she added.
Also in attendance was LGAZ Executive Director, Ms. Mpatanji Namumba, who emphasized the Association’s commitment to strengthening its collaboration with traditional leaders. "LGAZ is delighted to engage with traditional leaders on this crucial issue. We will continue to engage them even in other strategic meetings of the Association to ensure sustained dialogue and action towards inclusive, gender responsive governance," she stated.
A United Front: Traditional Leaders Commit to Change
In a strong show of commitment, the four traditional leaders unanimously agreed on the following action points to enhance women’s participation in governance:
• Community-level sensitizations to raise awareness, including targeted forums for men.
• Trainings through both informal and formal education to equip women with knowledge and leadership skills.
• Dialogues with political parties and households to take a non-confrontational approach to advancing women’s leadership.
• Development of clear and culturally sensitive messages for sensitization purposes.
• Commitment to support more potential female aspirants to local elected office.
The interaction served as a crucial step towards reshaping retrogressive societal norms and fostering an inclusive and peaceful political environment where women and persons with disabilities have a strong and influential voice.
