A senior Zambian government official, Mainga Kabika, head of the gender division in the president's office, has revealed that some political parties are demanding sexual favours from prospective female candidates in exchange for selection for the upcoming general election in August. Kabika urged aspiring female candidates to record such instances, confirming she has already received numerous reports of "sextortion" from women. This issue highlights the significant gender imbalance in Zambian politics, where women constitute only about 15% of MPs, reflecting deep-rooted cultural and structural barriers. Beauty Katebe, chair of the Non-Governmental Gender Organisations Coordinating Council, emphasized that this practice discourages women from political participation and called for a fast-track court and stronger laws to combat sexual harassment, noting the challenges posed by cultural biases and victim embarrassment. Katebe also pointed to patriarchal tendencies within political parties as a major impediment to women's involvement. Both officials underscore the urgent need for systemic changes to ensure fair and equitable participation for women in the political landscape.