Hichilema addresses largest number of MPs in Zambia’s history today PRESIDENT Hakainde Hichilema will today officially open the 14th National Assembly with the largest number of members of parliament which will see 280 law makers in the August house. The new composition includes 226 constituency-based Members of Parliament, 40 proportional representation seats, 11 nominated by […]

Hichilema addresses largest number of MPs in Zambia’s history today

PRESIDENT Hakainde Hichilema will today officially open the 14th National Assembly with the largest number of members of parliament which will see 280 law makers in the August house.

The new composition includes 226 constituency-based Members of Parliament, 40 proportional representation seats, 11 nominated by President Hichilema as well as Ex officio members including the Vice President, Speaker and Deputy Speaker.

President Hichilema is yet to nominate the rest of the 11 after initially nominating five MPs.

And yesterday, Parley saw a new member emerge from Lumezi North after UPND’s Anderson Banda was declared MP after going unopposed following the close of nominations

The Lumezi North by-election was originally triggered by the death of National Reconciliation Party for Unity and Prosperity (NRPUP) parliamentary candidate Clement who died before the August 13, general election.

As it stands, Mandevu is the only constituency without a Member of Parliament with voting slated for November 5.

The increase in the number of MPs in the August house was facilitated by constitutional changes introduced through Bill No. 7 of 2025.

The amendments increased the number of constituency-based parliamentary seats after delimitation to 226 and introduced a mixed-member proportional representation system intended to improve the representation of women, youths and persons with disabilities in Parliament.

Bill 7 became law on December 18, 2025, after President Hichilema assented to the legislation.

The constitutional reform process began after the President, on September 13, 2024, warned Parliament of gaps in the Constitution which he said could potentially leave Zambia without an election for eight or nine years.

The proposed changes sparked debate, with opposition parties, civil society organizations and church bodies raising concerns about the Government’s intentions.

However, Government maintained that the reforms were intended to strengthen the democratic system and broaden representation.

A technical committee chaired by retired Supreme Court judge Christopher Mushabati was later appointed to collect public views.

After two months of consultations, the committee submitted its report to the President on December 2, 2025, having received 11,860 submissions from across the country.

Bill 7 returned to Parliament the following day, and on December 15, all 135 MPs present voted in favour of it at Third Reading, surpassing the constitutionally required two-thirds majority.

The legislation also introduced changes to nominated MPs, by-elections, election petitions and local government structures, among other provisions.

Today’s parliamentary opening follows the adjournment sine die of the fifth session of the 13th National Assembly on May 12, 2026.

By George Musonda