A Historic Day for Representation in Zambia's Parliament

The Electoral Commission of Zambia today validated 40 Members of Parliament nominated under the country's new proportional representation system, completing a reform that changes the composition of the National Assembly for the first time in its history.

The 40 seats are reserved: 20 for women, 15 for youth and five for persons with disabilities. They were created by the Constitution of Zambia (Amendment) Act No. 13 of 2025, with the Electoral Process (Amendment) Act No. 12 of 2026 providing the framework for seat distribution and the submission of party lists.

Validation took place at Mulungushi International Conference Centre in Lusaka. ECZ chairperson Mwangala Zaloumis said the system had been introduced to broaden representation — increasing the participation of women in policy-making and legislation, while giving youths and persons with disabilities a route into national decision-making. All candidates were required to meet the same constitutional qualifications as those contesting first-past-the-post seats, with the Commission verifying compliance with Articles 70 and 153.

Two parties qualified: the United Party for National Development, taking 32 seats, and the National Reconciliation Party for Unity and Prosperity, taking eight.

The women validated came from across public life. Getrude Imenda, UPND deputy secretary general, and Ketty Nanyangwe, former Lusaka deputy mayor, presented their credentials together. Dr Irene Muyenga, former managing director of ZISC and Savenda General Insurance, enters from business; Dr Caroline Katotobwe from civil society, as chairperson of the Civil Society Alliance on Legal Reforms. Mutinta Musokotwane, daughter of former prime minister Kebby Musokotwane, was among them, as were Judith Kabemba, president of the Democratic Party, and Susan Tembo, a long-standing UPND member from Siavonga.

The youth seats brought in a generation that has come up through student politics. Jemimah Mwaba, former vice-president of the University of Zambia Students' Union and widely known as Commander Kwishiba, was validated this afternoon. Kabaso Mwanto, a former UNZASU president known as Shuwa Shuwa, Gabriel Simutowe of Chalimbana University and Lloyd Nsonga, former president of the Copperbelt Students' Union, also take seats. Nsama Patrick Mpundu, who became a councillor in Chainda Ward 33 at 21, enters Parliament at 26.

Five members take the seats reserved for persons with disabilities: Francis Kope, Lazarus Hakalebula and Misheck Mweemba for the UPND, and Kennedy Phiri and Mumba Mubanga for the NRPUP. Hakalebula is a musician, Phiri a football administrator.

What the list makes plain is its range. Insurance executives and student leaders, party officials and civil society lawyers, musicians and football administrators, sitting alongside members returned in the ordinary way by constituencies.

For the first time, Parliament will include a guaranteed bloc of members drawn from groups that have historically been thinly represented in the chamber. The 14th National Assembly is sworn in on Monday, with President Hakainde Hichilema due to open the First Session on 9 October.