The Zambia National Education Coalition (ZANEC) has recognised student leadership as an important foundation for building accountable, inclusive and responsive institutions.
ZANEC Vice Board Chairperson Victoria Mbandu said effective student leadership helps promote accountability, mentorship, advocacy and meaningful participation in decision-making among students in institutions of higher learning.
Speaking during a governance and financial management training for Female Network and student leaders in Lusaka today, Ms Mbandu said the initiative seeks to strengthen female student leadership in collaboration with the Zambia National Student Union (ZANASU).
She said the training would equip student leaders with practical skills in governance, leadership responsibilities, accountability and basic financial management to enable them to manage activities responsibly and build trust among the students they represent.
“Our discussions will focus on governance, leadership responsibilities, accountability and basic financial management,” Ms Mbandu said.
She noted that Female Network structures in institutions of higher learning are at different stages, with some requiring strengthening or reactivation while others are yet to be established.
Ms Mbandu urged participants to develop realistic six-month action plans to guide the establishment, strengthening and reactivation of the structures at their respective institutions.
“What matters most is that we move beyond discussions and put what we learn into practice,” she said.
She has further observed that women remain underrepresented in Zambia’s National Assembly, noting that women held 63 of the 281 seats, representing approximately 22.4 percent, according to figures cited in her remarks from the Alliance for Community Action fact-checkers on October 8, 2026.
Ms Mbandu said the introduction of proportional representation, with seats allocated to women, young people and persons with disabilities, created further opportunities for participation, but stressed that such opportunities needed to be matched with adequate leadership preparation.
She also thanked the Norwegian Students’ and Academics’ International Assistance Fund (SAIH) for its financial and continued support towards the training, saying the partnership contributed to strengthening student leadership and promoting inclusive and equitable education.
Ms Mbandu encouraged the participants to view leadership as a responsibility to serve others and set a positive example rather than merely holding a position.
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