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Vice President Mutale Nalumango has expressed concern over the increasing vulnerability of women to Gender-Based Violence (GBV), which she says is being exacerbated by economic hardships and the effects of climate change.
Speaking at the launch of the Women Leadership in Climate Action (WLCA) Strategic Plan 2025-2030 in Lusaka on Thursday, Nalumango said that food and water shortages were forcing women to travel long distances, making them more susceptible to domestic violence and exploitation.
She further warned that climate change was disrupting education for young girls, with many being forced into early marriages due to poverty and displacement, especially during flooding events.
Nalumango highlighted that Zambia’s women, who make up between 45 and 80 percent of the country’s agricultural workforce, were particularly vulnerable to climate hazards such as droughts and floods.
She warned that the economic costs of climate change could reach $400 billion annually by 2030 for low-income countries, including Zambia.
Women Leadership in Climate Action Co-Chairperson, Nachilala Nkombo, said the newly launched strategy aligns with the government’s vision for a low-carbon, resilient, and socially inclusive economy.
She explained that the initiative would focus on environmental sustainability, economic growth, and social inclusiveness, with particular emphasis on agriculture, energy, and water management.
The strategy also aims to enhance resource efficiency, promote natural capital, and improve inclusivity by mobilizing resources and expertise to support sustainable development efforts.
ZANACO Chief Executive Officer, Mukwandi Chibesakunda, noted that climate-induced crop failures had deepened poverty and malnutrition, disproportionately affecting women.
Citing UN Women, she warned that by 2050, climate change could push 158 million women into poverty and 232 million into food insecurity.
She also referenced UN Environment, which estimates that 80 percent of climate-displaced individuals are women and girls.
Meanwhile, Zambia recorded 42,178 GBV cases in 2024, a 1.8 percent decrease from 42,965 cases in 2023, according to police data.
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