The Non-governmental Gender Organisations Coordinating Council (NGOCC) has encouraged the Speaker of the National Assembly of Zambia the Rt Honourable Nelly BK Mutti, MP, FAPRA not to be discouraged or intimidated by the demeaning language and calls for impeachment by some Members of Parliament.      

NGOCC Chairperson, Grace Manyonga Sinkamba, who led a delegation of women on Monday, 13^th November, 2023 at the Parliament Buildings in Lusaka to offer solidarity to the Speaker, said that the women’s movement is always concerned when the few women in leadership become a target of ridicule.

“Our visit here this morning is to offer you solidarity as one of the few female leaders in the Country. As the women’s movement we remain concerned with the recent happenings in Parliament. We are concerned with the demeaning language and sometimes the insults that are targeted at you.” Ms. Sinkamba said.

Ms. Sinkamba highlighted recent incidence, in the National Assembly involving 16 opposition Members of Parliament who were suspended due to unruly behavior. She said that such occurrences are not unprecedented, noting that during former Speaker, Hon Patrick Matibini's tenure, even more MPs were also suspended without the same level of derogatory language or insults directed at the former Speaker.

"As NGOCC, it is our considered view that Honourable Mutti is being targeted simply because she is a woman. As a women's movement, we condemn in the strongest terms the disrespect shown to her as the Speaker, attributing it to gender-based bias," she said.

And Speaker of the National Assembly of Zambia the Rt Hon Nelly BK Mutti, MP, FAPRA affirmed her commitment to carry out her functions in Parliament in accordance with the Constitution and Standing Orders, despite facing ridicule, insults and calls for her impeachment from some Members including fellow women and individuals on various platforms.

The Honourable Speaker stated that she accords great respect to all Members of Parliament but emphasized that the respect should be mutual. She clarified, “It is not right to assume that I stop Members from debating when I guide them on Parliamentary proceedings. I’ am not the opposition to the Parliamentarians but a custodian of Standing Orders in the House.”

Speaker Mutti urged the media to be verifying facts from the offices of the Clerk and the Chief Whip on matters concerning the operations of the National Assembly before publishing stories, in order to give all parties an equal opportunity to air their side of the story so as to ensure accurate reporting.

Furthermore, the Speaker called on the authorities responsible for regulating the internet space to apply the law rigorously, particularly in cases of cybercrimes, including those against women in leadership targeting women leaders. She emphasized the importance of creating a safer online environment to encourage more women to take up leadership roles.