By 
In what appears an intrusion into the internal wrangling within Zambia’s leading opposition party, the Patriotic Front(PF), Chief Government Spokesperson, Cornelius Mweetwa, says expulsion of Members of Parliament who supported Bill No. 7 is merely symbolic and has no legal effect on their parliamentary seats.
PF Acting President, Given Lubinda, had on Thursday, December 18, 2025, announced the expulsion of MPs who voted in favour of the controversial Bill No. 7, accusing them of defying party instructions.
However, speaking at a media briefing at the Taj Pamodzi Hotel in Lusaka on Friday, Mweetwa said the affected MPs would remain in Parliament until the next general elections, stressing that no by-elections would be triggered.
He said Zambia was governed by the rule of law, which protects all citizens — including Members of Parliament — in the execution of their constitutional duties.
“The MPs’ decision to vote for Bill No. 7 was lawful and fell squarely within their mandate and privileges as provided for under Article 76 of the Constitution of Zambia,” Mweetwa said.
Mweetwa described Lubinda’s announcement as alarming, arguing that it amounted to an affront to the law.
Read More: PF expels lawmakers who voted in favour of controversial Bill 7
He explained that the Parliamentary Privileges and Immunities Act safeguards legislators from any form of sanction or intimidation arising from actions undertaken in the course of their parliamentary functions.
“The alleged expulsions are an exercise in futility and should be treated as political posturing intended to mask internal party dissatisfaction following the passage of Bill No. 7,” he said.
Mweetwa stressed that no party constitution could override or extinguish rights guaranteed to Members of Parliament under the Republican Constitution.
He further assured citizens in constituencies represented by PF MPs who supported Bill No. 7 that their elected representatives remain in office until Parliament is dissolved.
“No by-elections will arise from the purported expulsions, as the MPs remain lawfully in charge of making laws,” Mweetwa said.
He urged the affected MPs to remain steadfast, noting that no law or action framed against them on this basis would be sustained by the courts.
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