By 
Former Kasenengwa Constituency lawmaker, Sensio Banda, has described the declaration of the Chawama Parliamentary seat as vacant as a political fight disguised as a procedural matter by Speaker of the National Assembly Nelly Mutti.
Banda said the UPND government appeared eager to demonstrate strength by removing an opposition Member of Parliament from the House and potentially securing another seat ahead of the 2026 general elections.
In an interview with Zambia Monitor, Banda said the matter could have been handled with greater transparency and sensitivity in a functioning democracy, especially considering the circumstances surrounding the affected MP.
“Yes, MPs must attend Parliament. That’s true. But the unique situation of Hon. Lungu—dealing with the unresolved burial of a former Head of State—deserved careful consideration. Instead, the action taken feels more political than procedural,” he said.
Banda said the decision sent a message that “power comes first, and people later,” adding that the Chawama saga illustrated how political power can overshadow fairness, compassion, and common sense.
“When Parliament changes its position without clearly re-opening or explaining the earlier ruling, people lose trust,” he said.
He added that government’s readiness to spend large amounts on a by-election, which he said offered little benefit to the country, raised questions about its priorities.
“When the country is struggling with economic challenges, high cost of living, unpaid bills in ministries, and load shedding, such spending feels irresponsible,” Banda said.
New Heritage Party President Chishala Kateka also criticised the decision, saying the timing—just months before a general election—raised “uncomfortable questions” about the politicisation of grief and the erosion of parliamentary integrity.
Kateka said the UPND administration, once buoyed by the hopes of 2.8 million voters, now seemed detached from its founding promises.
“It governs not through consensus, but through contradiction. It speaks of unity while sowing division,” she said.
She added that government invoked the Constitution while undermining its core tenets, and called for peace while criminalising peaceful assembly.
Kateka said the daughter of the late President Edgar Lungu had endured not only the loss of a father but also “the indignity of political interference in her mourning.”
“For months, she was unable to bury him, a delay that defies cultural norms and human decency. The grief of a daughter was compounded by the machinery of a state that seemed more preoccupied with political calculus than compassion,” she said.
Speaker Mutti, who had initially indicated that Tasila Lungu could return to Parliament within fourteen days of her father’s burial, later reversed the position, citing Standing Orders 215 and 243, and Article 72(8) of the Constitution.
WARNING! All rights reserved. This material, and other digital content on this website, may not be reproduced, published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed in whole or in part without prior express permission from ZAMBIA MONITOR.
Comments