Even President Sata fails the 5050 test as he appoints cabinet, provincial ministers

Newly elected Zambian President Michael Sata appointed only two women out of the 19 member cabinet (10.5%) on 29 September 2011.

The country will not meet the 2015 target of achieving 50% women in decision making. Zambia is a signatory of the SADC Protocol on Gender and Development and Sata’s political party (Patriotic Front)’s manifesto has made indications that they will ratify once elected into power. But events on the ground show that they are far from making the document a living reality.

The country which previously had 14% women representation in cabinet has slipped from number 13 out of the 15 SADC countries to rank last in the region. According to the 2011 SADC Gender Protocol Barometer the regional average stands at 22% women representation in cabinet.

The two women in cabinet are Professor Luo Nkandu Minister of Local Government, Housing, Early Education and Environmental Protection and Inonge Wina, Minister of Chiefs and Traditional Affairs. Out of the nine provincial ministers , only one (Josephine Limata Limata) is a woman.

The Southern Africa Gender Protocol Alliance governance cluster will have to redouble their advocacy efforts to make sure that the 5050 campaign yields results in the face of upcoming elections in the region as we march towards 2015. The Table provides a summary of upcoming elections.

Summary of recent and upcoming elections

Source: 2011 SADC Gender Protocol Barometer