NO SEX FOR POWER
… Chikatula exposes sextortion in politics as AG Kabesha warns no one will be spared
By Ludia Ngwadzai and Adrian Mwanza
POLITICS must never become a space for trading sex in exchange for positions, but rather a platform for competing on ideas and vision for national development, Rufunsa Town Council aspiring council chairperson Ireen Chikatula has said.
Meanwhile, Attorney General Mulilo Kabesha has warned that there will be no sacred cows in the government’s fight against sextortion in the political arena.
Speaking in an interview with The Mast, Chikatula urged women to resist vulnerability and instead assert themselves through the strength of their ideas rather than sex.
“I know there are people who have traded sex for jobs, sex for good grades in universities, sex for food and it’s not just in politics. This must come to an end. Women should learn to say no to this,” she said.
Speaking out on the prevalence of sextortion in politics, Chikatula said it was time for women to organise themselves collectively and speak out against the practice instead of suffering in silence.
“I do not know the right time to speak about my experiences because if I speak now, I’m afraid of being labeled as accusing people,” she said.
Chikatula shared her personal experiences of sextortion in politics, saying the practice was real, widespread and demanded a collective response from women who had too long endured it in silence.
She said women needed to fight it together by building networks of mutual support and by fearlessly exposing those responsible for perpetuating it.
“As women, we have also presented ourselves as vulnerable, and that’s wrong. I have found myself telling people that I’m new in politics and I don’t know these things, and that’s the moment we open ourselves up to be taken advantage of,” she said.
Chikatula said women must also prepare themselves mentally before entering politics and equipping themselves with strong networks.
. “You have to prepare yourself very well… be very well informed of what it means to go into politics, what does it take, what do I need to learn, who do I need to bring closer to me as part of my network,” she said.
She urged women to compete for positions on the strength of their ideas rather than through sexual compromise as this was the only path to earning genuine respect and lasting dignity in public life.
“We can trade ideas for positions, we don’t have to lower ourselves to that level, where sex becomes a bargaining tool for my adoption. This is a critical period and one needs to be strong by fighting the temptation. Sex for position in whatever way you may look at it, is wrong, and it should be talked about,” she said.
Chikatula also highlighted the deeply patriarchal nature of Zambian politics, where men frequently positioned themselves as gatekeepers and used their power to control and manipulate women seeking political office.
“Politics is a male-dominated space, and it’s historical, it’s patriarchal. We know how in the past women were not even allowed to participate in decision-making conversations,” she said.
Chikatula called for zero tolerance of all forms of sexual abuse and exploitation targeting female political aspirants.
“We are calling for a zero, zero, zero tolerance to sexual abuse and exploitation for female political aspirants. Women should be respected and valued in politics, and it’s time to change the narrative. Respect is given, not demanded. When you are an irreplaceable woman, people will respect you as well,” she said.
In a separate interview, Kabesha warned that there would be no sacred cows in the government’s fight against sextortion in politics or in the workplace.
Kabesha said those reported and found to have engaged in sextortion would not be spared regardless of their political affiliation.
He urged all women who had been victims to report their experiences to the relevant authorities so that perpetrators could be brought to justice.
“Don’t hesitate to take the names of all those who are demanding sex from women or men who are vying for positions or even at the workplace,” he said.
He said sextortion was not confined to politics but was also prevalent in workplaces, and warned that his office would act decisively to nip the scourge in the bud rather than allow it to persist unchallenged.
Kabesha said it was unacceptable for people in positions of power to make sex a condition of employment or political advancement, and that such conduct would be prosecuted to the full extent of the law.
“I just want to tell the nation that sextortion does not just involve women, but even men too can be affected, and they should not feel ashamed at all to report the matter to the relevant authorities,” Kabesha said.
