National Initiative for Civic Education (Nice) Trust has expressed concern with the poor performance of women candidates who contested for parliamentary and local government elections in Salima District.
At least 21 women candidates contested in the September 16 General Election in Salima. Five of them contested for parliamentary seats while 16 were vying for local government positions.
However, unofficial results monitored at the district tally centre in Salima showed that all women candidates were trailing their male counterparts.
In an interview on Sunday, Nice Salima district programmes officer Queen Mataya expressed disappointment with the unofficial results.
She said: “No woman candidate is leading in the unofficial results, which is raising concerns about inclusiveness and the efforts organisations put in to help them win.
“We worked hard to advocate for these women, but the voters have acted otherwise.”
Mataya stressed that it was a missed opportunity for people to give a chance to women who are also capable of running various political assignments transparently.
On his part, Salima District Civil Society Organisations Network Joseph Kandiyesa said people have missed an opportunity to elect women, who are more trusted than men.
“We need to level the playing field for all as most men have financial muscle to outdo women, youths and persons with disabilities. We need to preserve a culture of equal playing through our laws,” he said.
Salima district gender officer Fyness Samaliya also expressed disappointment with the poor showing of women candidates.
“We need to work hard so that women should be given an opportunity to hold top positions,” she said.
In 2019, three women were elected as councillors in the district, but the September 16 2025 unofficial results show no woman may get a seat.
