National Assembly Sets 17 September Deadline for Proportional Representation MPs

The National Assembly of Zambia has asked the Electoral Commission of Zambia to submit the names of Members of Parliament entering the House under the Mixed Member Proportional Representation system by 17 September 2026.

Clerk of the National Assembly Loveness Mayaka said the names were required to allow the incoming Members to undergo internal processes, including induction, which she said should be conducted jointly for directly elected Members and those arriving through the proportional system so that neither group was treated separately.

Her remarks were delivered on her behalf by Deputy Clerk for Administration Sage Samuwika at the opening of a three-day capacity-building workshop for the National Assembly Research Department, focused on disability inclusion.

Ms Mayaka said the reservation of five parliamentary seats for Persons with Disabilities under the new system was a significant milestone, but that their presence in Parliament had to be matched by an institutional environment that enabled them to participate effectively. The National Assembly was reviewing its systems, procedures, infrastructure and support services accordingly, she said.

She cautioned against a narrow reading of accessibility, saying it extended beyond ramps and lifts to communication, information, digital and procedural access, as well as the attitudinal and institutional barriers that could keep Persons with Disabilities from taking a full part in parliamentary work.