Source: Times of Zambia
THE Non Governmental Organisations Coordinating Council (NGOCC) through the Zambia National Women's Lobby (ZNWL) has raised K820 million from a budget of K2 billion to support all female candidates participating

in the September 20 elections regardless of political affiliation.

And the women movement has expressed concern at the low numbers of women adopted as parliamentary candidates by all the political parties participating in this year's elections.

NGOCC board secretary Grace Manyonga said at a media briefing in Lusaka yesterday that of the K2 billion, K820 million had so far been mobilized to be shared equally among all female parliamentary and local government candidates.

She said NGOCC through ZNWL had since 2009 undertaken various trainings for female aspiring candidates and that so far 65 had undergone the programme. It has also thus far assisted 68 parliamentary candidates, 13 councillors and one presidential candidate with campaign materials.

Speaking at the same briefing, NGOCC vice-board chairperson Mary Mulenga said generally, as the Women's Movement, it was saddening to note the low number of adopted parliamentary candidates by all political parties.

Ms Mulenga observed that as at yesterday, there were 105 female parliamentary candidates from the various political parties participating in the elections. She said 15 of them were participating as independent candidates. She said at local government level 99 female aspirants were vying to be councilors.

"It appears that our political parties here in Zambia are only interested in having more women dancers at rallies, ceremonies and airports but not as Members of Parliament or even Councilors. This is a very sad development.

"We are very disappointed that many women have been left out from the adoption list resulting in most of them standing as independent candidates. This goes even for those women who have invested their time and resources to mobilize and campaign not only for themselves, but for their party and their leadership," she said.

She observed that women that had opted to contest as independents were being intimidated by political parties that they earlier mobilized and campaigned for. She said NGOCC was concerned that there was no transparency in the adoption of candidates in all the political parties which promoted gender equity.

"The Women's Movement therefore, demands that all political parties give adequate support and resources to female candidates to enable them conduct their campaigns efficiently and effectively.

"Besides, it is the responsibility of political parties to make sure that their candidates whether women or men are elected as leaders in the various constituencies they will be contesting as candidates," Ms Mulenga said.

Ms Mulenga said NGOCC would remain non-partisan but that it would embrace all political parties, especially those that adopt 50 per cent female candidates.

• Zambia