Hichilema to open new Parliament on October 9

President Hakainde Hichilema will officially open the First Session of the 14th National Assembly on Friday, October 9, when he will set out the Government’s policy direction and priorities for 2026–2027. Clerk of the National Assembly Loveness Mayaka said the ceremonial…

President Hakainde Hichilema will officially open the First Session of the 14th National Assembly on Friday, October 9, when he will set out the Government’s policy direction and priorities for 2026–2027.

Clerk of the National Assembly Loveness Mayaka said the ceremonial opening will take place at Parliament Buildings in Lusaka. The Head of State will address the House, and Members of Parliament (MPs) will then consider the policy pronouncements in his speech.

The timetable was announced in a statement issued yesterday by the National Assembly’s public and international relations director, Anthony Mpolokoso.

The election of presiding officers comes first, on Friday, October 2.

Proportional-representation MPs

The first new members to arrive will be those chosen under the Mixed Member Proportional Representation (MMPR) system.

Candidates put forward by the ruling United Party for National Development (UPND) and the NRPUP appear today before the Electoral Commission of Zambia (ECZ) returning officer in Lusaka. They are there to have the party lists validated.

Ms Mayaka said the new MPs will register at Parliament tomorrow and be sworn in on Monday, September 21. They must bring the required documents, including qualifications verified by the Zambia Qualifications Authority (ZAQA), passports and proof of residency where applicable.

How the seats were shared

The seats come from the Constitution of Zambia (Amendment) Act No. 13 of 2025, which created 40 proportional-representation seats in the National Assembly and local councils.

In the National Assembly, 20 are reserved for women, 15 for young people and five for persons with disabilities.

ECZ corporate affairs manager Patricia Luhanga said the commission had finished sharing out the seats. Each qualifying party’s share depends on the valid votes its presidential candidate won nationally in last month’s elections.

“The allocation was determined using a quota-based formula prescribed by law, and the political parties have since submitted their party lists,” Ms Luhanga said.

Only two parties qualified: the UPND and the NRPUP.

Parties hand in their lists

Both parties confirmed on Monday that they had submitted their lists.

UPND media director Mark Simuuwe said the governing party was waiting for feedback from the electoral body.

NRPUP leader Ezra Tembo said his party expects 16 seats in the National Assembly. He also rejected claims on social media that the party’s presidential candidate, Brian Mundubile, and his running mate, Makebi Zulu, were not consulted on the names. Mr Tembo said both men contributed to the list.

MPs return to councils

The new Parliament is taking shape as MPs also take up seats in local councils under recent constitutional amendments.

In Choma, Central MP Cornelius Mweetwa was sworn in as a member of the Choma Municipal Council alongside elected councillors, in the presence of Chiefs Cooma, Macha and Mapanza.

He said sitting on the council would let MPs oversee Constituency Development Fund (CDF) projects from proposal to completion. That, he said, would help catch inflated costs and poor workmanship early.

“We have no excuse now. We have been brought right to the place where we belong to be made accountable to our electorate and also to hold the local authorities accountable,” Mr Mweetwa said.

He thanked President Hichilema for bringing MPs back to councils.

In Livingstone, Central MP Gracious Mayangwa and Maramba MP Yvonne Kabba were sworn into the Livingstone City Council by magistrate Kahoyi Mushabati.

“Now we are part of the council and we have the right and power to look into all those issues that the people of Livingstone have been crying about for a long time,” Mr Mayangwa said.

Ms Kabba said her priority in Maramba would be roads and bridges, especially crossings that become impassable in the rainy season. Livingstone town clerk Sombo Kawilila said the MPs will now sit on standing committees and attend ordinary council meetings.

The timetable

The parliamentary calendar now runs in sequence. The ECZ validates the proportional-representation lists today, the new members register tomorrow and they take the oath on Monday.

Presiding officers will be elected on October 2. A week later, President Hichilema will deliver his address opening the new Parliament.