Lusaka Province has recorded the highest number of Gender-Based Violence (GBV) cases in Zambia during the first quarter of 2026, with 1,677 criminal incidents reported between 1 January and 31 March.
Copperbelt followed with 953 cases, while Western Province recorded 746 cases, according to the Zambia Police Service.
Nationally, the country recorded a total of 10,231 GBV cases during the period under review, comprising 6,879 criminal cases and 3,352 non-criminal cases.
This represents an 8.5 percent decrease compared to the 11,177 cases recorded in the same period in 2025.
Police Public Relations Officer Godfrey Chilabi says women and girls remain the most affected by Gender-Based Violence, accounting for 78.4 percent of all victims, while children made up 2,586 cases, underscoring continued vulnerability among minors.
He says physical abuse remained the most common form of GBV, with 3,807 cases recorded, followed by economic abuse at 1,797 cases and sexual abuse at 934 cases.
Child defilement accounted for 681 cases within sexual offences.
Mr Chilabi adds that the Zambia Police Service provided counselling services to 8,943 victims during the period under review and continues to strengthen prevention, awareness and response efforts while urging communities and stakeholders to work together in addressing GBV.
By Niza Vomo
