Mutti advocates for women’s political participation, only 27 % of them are parliamentarians globally

WITH women holding a mere 27 percent of parliamentary seats worldwide and just 15 percent in Zambia, speaker of the National Assembly, Nelly Mutti, delivered a compelling address at the Fourth Eurasian Women’s Conference, urging international leaders to prioritise women’s political participation.

Speaking under the theme “Women for Strengthening Trust and Global Cooperation,” Mutti highlighted the alarming global statistics that reveal only 11,950 female Members of Parliament currently serve.

In Zambia, the representation is even lower, with only 25 women out of 167 total MPs.

Reflecting on her role as the first female Speaker in Zambia, Mutti stated: “Following my election as the first female Speaker of our Parliament, I have advocated for the transformation of the Women Parliamentary Caucus into a Standing Parliamentary Committee on Women Affairs to give prominence to women’s rights and welfare in the country,” the Speaker said.

She said there is urgent need for action, declaring as the need for more women to be involved in politics has increasingly become urgent.

In her address, she called on fellow Parliamentarians to strengthen the legal framework and the policies pertaining to women empowerment and gender equality and ensuring entrenchment in the constitution to guarantee implementation.”

Additionally, she urged for dedicated budget allocations to support women-focused programmes, reinforcing the idea that parliamentary action is essential for creating lasting change.

According to a statement issued by Nshamba Muzungu, the National Assembly’s senior media liaison officer, the conference also featured notable attendees, including Russian President Vladimir Putin and Federation Council Speaker Valentina Matvienko, highlighting its importance in the global dialogue on gender equality.

By Moses Makwaya

Kalemba September 18, 2024