Crisis-ridden PF urges Speaker Mutti to declare seats vacant for MPs who dumped their parties

Crisis-ridden Patriotic Front (PF) has demanded that Speaker of the National Assembly, Nelly Mutti, declare vacant the seats of lawmakers who have crossed the floor, saying the Republican Constitution was explicit on the matter.

Chairperson for Information and Publicity, Emmanuel Mwamba, called for action after he accused MPs of breaching the Constitution by switching political allegiance.

In a statement issued in Lusaka on Sunday, Mwamba said that when a Member of Parliament crosses the floor, the seat should be declared vacant in line with constitutional provisions.

“The Republican Constitution is explicitly clear. When a member of parliament crosses the floor, their seat must be declared vacant. Even in this late hour, those MPs that have crossed the floor must have their seat declared vacant,” he said.

Mwamba noted that while by-elections cannot be held within 180 days of a general election, the law still required the seats to be declared vacant.

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He cited Article 72, as amended in 2016 and 2025, which states that a parliamentary seat becomes vacant if a member resigns from the party that sponsored them, joins another party after being elected as an independent, or is expelled from their party subject to court confirmation.

Mwamba said it was clear that Independent MPs Moses Moyo (Luangeni) and Misheck Nyambose (Chasefu), as well as PF lawmakers Robert Chabinga (Mafinga), Sunday Chanda (Kanchibiya) and Davison Mungandu (Chama South), had crossed the floor in violation of the Constitution.

“Clearly what Independent MPs, Moses Moyo (Luangeni), Misheck Nyambose (Chasefu), and Patriotic Front MPs; Robert Chabinga (Mafinga), Sunday Chanda (Kanchibiya) and Davison Mungandu (Chama South) have broken the Constitution by officially crossing the floor,” he wrote.

Mwamba also questioned why Speaker Mutti was allowing what he described as “constitutional delinquents and law breakers” to remain in the House.

He called for full adherence to the law.

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