ZNWL WARNS SEX PREDATORS
…Female candidates urged to report sextortion ahead of 2026 polls
By Adrian Mwanza
WE will deal against anyone who coerces women into sexual activities in exchange for adoptions to contest this year’s general election, Zambia National Women’s Lobby (ZNWL) chairperson Daisy Ng’ambi has warned.
In an interview with The Mast, Ng’ambi described sextortion as a serious issue in Zambia because it undermined women’s participation in politics.
She said ZNWL was closely monitoring the situation and warned that anyone found guilty of such acts would face the full force of the law.
“I want to warn all those in the habit of coercing women into engaging in sexual activities to get adoption to be careful because we are not going easy on them. We know what it is and its effect at all levels of society,” she said.
Ng’ambi said women aspiring for public office were often vulnerable to sex predators who targeted ambitious candidates.
She urged women to report such offenders to law enforcement agencies.
Ng’ambi said holding perpetrators accountable would serve as a deterrent to others.
She, however, expressed concern that women coerced into sextortion were reluctant to come forward, which made it difficult for them to get justice.
“The problem we face is that women are not coming forward to report these individuals who are taking advantage of them. This is a sad development,” she said.
Meanwhile, National Democratic Congress (NDC) president Saboi Imboela said sextortion was rife in the country and most women were victims.
Imboela urged women to report such cases to law enforcement agencies to ensure the scourge was effectively addressed.
She said individuals in several political parties had been implicated in sextortion, a practice that discouraged women from participating in politics due to fear of exploitation.
“I can confirm that there is sextortion in most political parties, but my appeal to women is that we need to nip it in the bud,” said Imboela.
