Full list: Zambia’s 40 proportional representation MPs as ECZ validates UPND and NRPUP nominees

LUSAKA – Zambia’s new proportional representation system has moved from legislation to reality, with the Electoral Commission of Zambia (ECZ) validating 40 nominated Members of Parliament who will enter the National Assembly through the new system. Zambian Eye has compiled the full list of the 40 validated proportional representation MPs, showing the party allocation and […]

Hon. Kabaso Mwanto, Hon Jemaima Mwaba, Hon. Michelo Chizombe, Hon. Lloyd Nsonga and Hon Vincent on being nominated as members of parliament for the year 2026-2031.

LUSAKA – Zambia’s new proportional representation system has moved from legislation to reality, with the Electoral Commission of Zambia (ECZ) validating 40 nominated Members of Parliament who will enter the National Assembly through the new system.

Zambian Eye has compiled the full list of the 40 validated proportional representation MPs, showing the party allocation and the three categories under which they have been selected: women, youths and persons with disabilities.

The validation took place on Friday, 18 September 2026, at the Mulungushi International Conference Centre in Lusaka, with ECZ Chairperson Mwangala Zaloumis serving as Returning Officer.

Only two political parties qualified for the National Assembly proportional representation seats — the United Party for National Development (UPND) and the National Reconciliation Party for Unity and Prosperity (NRPUP).

UPND has been allocated 32 of the 40 seats, while NRPUP has eight.

The 40 seats comprise:

• 20 women
• 15 youths
• 5 persons with disabilities

The system was introduced through the Constitution of Zambia (Amendment) Act No. 13 of 2025, with the Electoral Process (Amendment) Act No. 12 of 2026 providing the framework for implementation.

The full list of the 40 PR MPs

Women – 20 seats

UPND – 17:

1. Mutinta Musokotwane
2. Mirriam Chonya
3. Gertrude Imenda
4. Clarissa Chikamba
5. Caroline Katotobwe
6. Catherine Kantumoya
7. Judith Kabemba
8. Susan Tembo
9. Irene Muyenga
10. Ketty Nanyangwe
11. Grace Sampa Malunga
12. Melissa Chinyemba
13. Samwata Manyingu
14. Esnart Sakala
15. Moomba Mbolongwe Thornicroft
16. Chama Chileshe
17. Chilufya Chikongolo

NRPUP – 3:

1. Julian Kangwa
2. Mubanga Kapambwe
3. Susan Petwe

The party distribution in the women’s category is 17 seats for UPND and three for NRPUP.

Youths – 15 seats

UPND – 12:

1. Donald Mwenda
2. Christine Bwembya
3. Mukumbuta Mubiyana
4. Nelia Shikombelo
5. Michelo Chizombwe
6. Jemimah Mwaba
7. Vincent Musilikani
8. Lloyd Nsonga
9. Kabaso Mwanto
10. Nsama Mpundu
11. Gabriel Simutowe
12. Fatima Moono Sicheele

NRPUP – 3:

1. Chanda Chunda
2. Collins Kampamba
3. Harry Simuntala

The youth allocation is therefore 12 seats for UPND and three for NRPUP.

Among the names attracting particular attention are former university student leaders including Jemimah Mwaba, Vincent Musilikani, Lloyd Nsonga, Kabaso Mwanto and Gabriel Simutowe.

Their entry into Parliament marks a transition from student leadership and youth politics into national representation.

Persons with disabilities – 5 seats

UPND – 3:

1. Francis Kope
2. Misheck Mweemba
3. Lazarus Hakalebula

NRPUP – 2:

1. Kennedy Phiri
2. Mumba Mubanga

The five seats reserved for persons with disabilities were divided three to UPND and two to NRPUP.

How the 40 seats were shared

The overall allocation is:

Party Women Youths Persons with disabilities Total UPND 17 12 3 32 NRPUP 3 3 2 8 Total 20 15 5 40

The allocation was based on the total valid presidential votes obtained by qualifying parties at national level under the proportional representation framework.

Why only UPND and NRPUP?

The ECZ said only two political parties qualified for the National Assembly proportional representation allocation following the 2026 presidential election.

This means that although several political parties participated in the general election, the PR seats were not distributed among all of them.

UPND and NRPUP therefore account for all 40 new National Assembly PR positions.

What is different about these MPs?

Unlike constituency MPs, these 40 members did not win individual constituency elections.

Their seats arise from the new mixed-member proportional representation system, which was designed to increase representation for groups identified in the Constitution as women, youths and persons with disabilities.

The ECZ said candidates were required to meet constitutional qualifications and that their eligibility was verified before validation.

The system therefore adds a new route into the National Assembly alongside the traditional constituency election.

A new chapter for Zambia’s Parliament

The validation of the 40 members marks the first implementation of proportional representation in Zambia’s National Assembly.

It also means that Parliament will now have a guaranteed bloc of members selected specifically under the three reserved categories.

For young people, the new system creates a direct route from youth and student leadership into Parliament. The validation of former student leaders such as Jemimah Mwaba, Lloyd Nsonga, Kabaso Mwanto, Vincent Musilikani and Gabriel Simutowe is one of the clearest examples of that transition.

For persons with disabilities, the five reserved seats provide representation through a mechanism that did not previously exist in the National Assembly.

For women, the system provides 20 specifically reserved positions, although women also appear among the youth and disability nominees.

What happens next?

The 40 validated members are expected to take their places in the new National Assembly after completing the required swearing-in process.

Their arrival will increase the size and change the composition of Zambia’s Parliament under the electoral reforms introduced ahead of the 2026 general election.

For voters searching for the names of Zambia’s new proportional representation MPs, the list above provides the party-by-party and category-by-category breakdown following the ECZ validation exercise.

Zambian Eye will continue to update this story as the new MPs are sworn in and begin their work in the 14th National Assembly.