‘It’s Embarrassing that Women hold only 15% of Parliamentary seats-Speaker Mutti
Speaker of the National Assembly, Nelly Mutti, has described the situation as “embarrassing”, lamenting that in 2025, only 15% of Members of Parliament are women.
“It is disheartening that despite our commitments to gender equality, we still have such a low number of women in Parliament. Youth representation is even worse, standing at less than one percent,” Ms. Mutti stated.
She has warned that without deliberate action, the country will continue struggling to meet regional and global commitments on gender inclusion, including the SADC Protocol on Gender and Development and the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
Ms. Mutti has stated that without a legal framework mandating gender quotas, Zambia will continue to fall short of representation targets.
She has pointed out that many SADC countries are now aiming for at least 50% female representation, while Zambia remains stagnant.
“We need a quota system to guarantee seats for women, youth, and persons with disabilities. Without it, we will never reach the numbers we aspire to,” she explained.
The Speaker has noted that nominations alone will not be enough to correct the imbalance, stressing the need for reserved seats at district and provincial levels.
Ms. Mutti has also raised concerns about the dwindling number of young people in politics, warning that many youth representatives are aging out before they can make a significant impact.
“Soon, we will have no youth representation at all. It is already difficult to find young MPs, and with time, this will only get worse,” she said.
The representation of persons with disabilities is also minimal, with Ms. Mutti pointing out that only one MP is classified as incapacitated.
“That is not the level of inclusion we need. We must ensure that more persons with disabilities have a voice in governance,” she added.
With the 2030 Sustainable Development Goals deadline approaching, Zambia remains far from achieving gender parity in governance. Ms. Mutti has stressed that constitutional amendments are the only way forward, calling on lawmakers to support the proposed changes.
“If we are serious about development, we must create space for women, youth, and persons with disabilities. The proposed constitutional amendments provide a real opportunity for progress,” she said.
She has acknowledged that there has been misinformation surrounding the amendment process and assured the public that no existing constituencies would be affected.
Instead, the changes would introduce new reserved seats specifically for underrepresented groups.
Ms. Mutti has explained that the Justice Minister recently outlined the roadmap for the constitutional amendments, clarifying the process that will follow.
“Once the bill is ready, it will be published in the Government Gazette for 30 days before being presented to Parliament. From there, it will undergo first reading and be referred to a Select Committee for further scrutiny,” she detailed.
She has urged Members of Parliament to approach the amendments with an open mind, emphasizing that inclusivity in governance should not be a political debate, but a national priority.
As the country debates the future of its democracy, Ms. Mutti’s words serve as a stark reminder that true representation remains elusive.
Her call for reform is not just about political fairness, but about ensuring that every voice is heard in shaping Zambia’s future.
“Zambia can no longer afford to lag behind. We need bold action now if we are to achieve real progress in gender and youth representation,” she concluded.
Ends……………………
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