Zambia Records 21.6% Reduction in Gender-Based Violence Cases

Zambia recorded 9,707 Gender-Based Violence (GBV) cases between September and December 2025, representing a 21.6 percent decrease from the 12,378 cases reported during the same period in 2024.

However, Zambia Police Service Public Relations Officer Godfrey Chilabi revealed that sexual abuse cases increased to 1,022 from 968 the previous year, marking a 5.6 percent rise.

"Of the cases recorded, 6,796 were criminal in nature, while 2,911 were non-criminal," Chilabi stated in a Wednesday announcement.

Lusaka Province recorded the highest number of criminal GBV cases with 1,483 incidents, representing 22 percent of the national total, followed by Luapula with 1,055 cases and Western Province with 849 cases.

Women and girls remained the most affected, accounting for 79.1 percent of all victims. A total of 2,716 children were reported abused during this period, with 1,571 girls and 456 boys affected in criminal cases.

Physical abuse remained the most prevalent form of GBV with 3,689 cases, including 3,076 cases of Assault Occasioning Actual Bodily Harm. Child defilement cases totalled 689, with girls representing most victims.

"The Fourth Quarter of 2025 shows a decline in overall GBV cases, indicating progress in prevention and response efforts," Chilabi stated, though he noted concerns about rising sexual and economic abuse cases.

During the period, 7,957 victims and offenders received professional counselling from the Victim Support Unit.