Assessing the Effectiveness of the Zambia’s National Gender Equality Policy (2014) in Addressing Barriers to Women’s Political Participation: A Case Study of Ndola District

This study assessed the effectiveness of Zambia’s National Gender Equality Policy (2014) in addressing barriers to women’s political participation, with a case study focus on Ndola District. The research aimed to identify socio-cultural, economic, and institutional challenges hindering women’s political involvement and evaluate how effectively the policy addresses these issues. Employing a descriptive case study design, the study combined qualitative and quantitative methods. Data were collected through semi-structured interviews, focus group discussions, and document analysis involving 40 participants, including female politicians, government officials, civil society representatives, and aspiring women politicians.

Findings reveal that socio-cultural barriers remain deeply entrenched, with 57% of respondents reporting hostile societal attitudes and 60% citing restrictive traditional practices that limit women's leadership opportunities. Economic barriers were pronounced; women reported significantly less access to campaign funding (35%) and political party support (26.7%) compared to men. Institutional weaknesses were also evident, with only 20% of participants perceiving the policy as fully implemented in Ndola District. Although 67% of respondents were aware of the policy, insufficient budget allocation (65%) and poor monitoring (40%) impeded effective execution.

The study concludes that while the Gender Equality Policy has increased political awareness and capacity-building efforts, its impact is constrained by persistent socio-cultural norms and inadequate institutional support. To enhance women’s political participation, the study recommends increased funding, strengthened monitoring mechanisms, enhanced political party support, and targeted community sensitization to challenge patriarchal norms.

This research contributes valuable insights into the multifaceted challenges facing women in Zambian politics and underscores the need for integrated strategies to achieve gender parity.