Women’s Day in Zambia

Legal status and date

The Public Holiday (Declaration) Notice, 2007, issued under the Public Holidays Act, declares 8 March each year a public holiday in commemoration of International Women’s Day, starting in 2008. The Act provides for additional public holidays to be declared by notice. A later Government Gazette listed the day among Zambia’s non-working public holidays for 2024.[1][2][3]

The 2007 notice sets 8 March as the date but does not name an alternative weekday if it falls on a weekend. The Public Holidays Act specifies that the following Monday is observed when a holiday listed in its Schedule falls on Sunday; Women’s Day was declared separately by notice. Check official announcements for any change to a particular year’s arrangements.[1][2]

The Employment Code Act says an employee is entitled to a full-pay holiday when a public holiday has been designated as a paid public holiday, subject to the Act’s conditions. It also provides for agreed payment arrangements when an employee or class of employees normally works on such a day. The Act does not itself establish that every worker in every employment arrangement is off work.[4]

What the day means in Zambia

The statutory notice establishes the commemoration as International Women’s Day. In official Zambian messages and events, the day has been used to recognize women’s contributions to national development and to call for equality, rights and greater participation. The emphasis and theme can vary from one commemoration to another.[1][5]

International Women’s Day also has a wider history: the United Nations traces its beginnings to labour movements in North America and Europe in the early twentieth century and says it was officially recognized by the UN in 1977.[6]

Commemorations and public events

Official commemorations have included speeches, marches and public displays. A Gender Division announcement described a national event in Kabwe, with provincial administrations leading events elsewhere and women showcasing innovations; it also mentioned a march past. A separate official account recorded a march in Lusaka involving women and men from organizations and government institutions.[5][7]

The location and programme can vary. Cabinet Office event information records a Women’s Day commemoration at the Lusaka Showgrounds, while the Gender Division account describes Kabwe as the national venue for its featured commemoration. These examples document organized public events, not a uniform custom followed by every community.[5][7]

Practical arrangements

The government’s annual Gazette notice describes listed public holidays as non-working days. Check directly with shops, banks, schools, transport operators or other services for their Women’s Day opening hours before travelling or arranging banking or administrative business.[3]