"Her Time Is Now” Campaign Pushes Financial Support for Women in Politics
By Daily News Reporter
LUSAKA — As Zambia looks toward the August 2026 General Elections, a growing coalition of women leaders, civil society organizations, diplomats, and government representatives is calling for a decisive shift—from symbolic support for women in politics to direct financial investment.
That call took center stage at a high-level breakfast meeting convened by the Non-Governmental Gender Organisations’ Coordinating Council (NGOCC), where stakeholders launched a new Donation Button aimed at mobilizing resources to support women candidates across the country.
The event, held under the banner “Her Time Is Now,” brought together women politicians, young activists, members of the diplomatic corps, political parties, and development partners.
Speaking during the Launch of the Donation Button in Lusaka NGOCC Board Chairperson Ms Beauty Katebe stated inclusive governance will not happen by chance—it must be deliberately financed, protected, and sustained.
She emphasized that this is not just about an election cycle,
“It is a forward-thinking and long-term movement to permanently transform Zambia’s political culture and ensure that inclusive governance becomes the norm, not the exception.” Ms Katebe said.
Further she urged participants to move beyond conversations and commit to tangible action.
“This breakfast must be remembered not just for dialogue, but for decisions, partnerships, and commitments,” Ms Katebe added
And Zambia National Association of Women with Disabilities National Coordinator Ms Bwalya Chilufya noted that women candidates have continue to face overwhelming financial and structural barriers to political participation.
Ms Chilufya also added that Women politicians themselves echoed this reality.
She noted that Members of a newly formed Resource Mobilization Group for Women in Politics shared their lived experiences—from failed adoption processes to repeated election losses—highlighting how systemic challenges continue to limit women’s access to political office.
Formed as a self-driven collective, the group meets monthly at NGOCC offices to strategize on increasing women’s representation.
Meanwhile Women in Politics Representative Ms Saboi Imboela also added that the time for women is now to challenge men in politics and participate in national development
“This is for us, We must invest in ourselves if we are serious about changing the numbers in parliament," Ms Imboela said.
She urged fellow women in all corners of this country to participate in National development by voicing out their concerns in politics.
Ms Imboela delivered a powerful reminder that women’s leadership should no longer be treated as negotiable.
“Women’s leadership is not something we should still be negotiating,” she said. “It should be something we normalize.” she said.
Drawing from her experience in politics underscored the impact of opportunity.
“When women are supported, leadership is not limited by age, geography, or background,” she said. “It is unlocked.”
Through its partnership with NGOCC, Young Women in Action, Women Politicians and other women advocates in politics is implementing leadership and civic engagement projects in districts such as Mungwi and Lunte, addressing entrenched barriers including patriarchal norms, economic exclusion, male-dominated political systems, and election-related violence.
At the heart of the meeting was the launch of the Donation Button—an innovation designed to directly address one of the most persistent obstacles to women’s political participation: money.
Financial constraints remain one of the biggest barriers preventing capable women from contesting elections, so this initiative helps level the playing field and ensures leadership is determined by competence and vision, not financial capacity.
Advocates also stressed the need for inclusive participation that extends to women with disabilities, citing Zambia’s Constitution, the National Disability Policy, and the country’s obligations under the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities.
Speaking on behalf of the government, a representative from the Gender Division under the Office of the President Mr Henry Kaoma reaffirmed the state’s commitment to women’s political participation.
“Women’s participation in public life is not a favor—it is a constitutional right and a development imperative,”r Kaoma said.
The government highlighted measures already taken, including the revised National Gender Policy, the National Strategy on Women’s Participation in Politics and Decision-Making, and the introduction of proportional representation under Constitutional Amendment No. 13 of 2025.
“This gap is what demands our collective action today,” Kaoma added.
With 2026 fast approaching, the tone of the gathering was both hopeful and urgent. Women speakers emphasized that the Her Time Is Now campaign complements government and civil societies efforts by translating commitments into community-level action—where women face real threats, limited resources, and political violence.
As the meeting concluded, participants were reminded that inclusive governance is not solely about women occupying seats—but about transforming the systems that decide who gets to lead.
And so they is this sentence which says "when women lead, communities thrive,” and “And when women lead, democracy is strengthened.”
In Zambia’s political future depends on what happens now—not later.
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