By 
Harry Kalaba, the leader of the Citizens First party, has called for the immediate dissolution of Parliament, arguing that the House was compromised and that lawmakers were no longer representing the electorate.
Kalaba said Parliament’s constitutional mandate had come into question after several Members of Parliament elected under one political mandate crossed over to the ruling party without consulting voters.
He cited the recent defection of Deputy Speaker Moses Moyo and other MPs, describing the trend as an act that undermined the will of the people.
In an interview with Zambia Monitor, Kalaba referenced Article 72, Article 2(c) of the Constitution, which stipulates that when an MP joins another political party, they must vacate their seat.
“Our Parliament’s constitutional mandate is now in serious question. It no longer speaks for you. MPs elected under your mandate have crossed to the ruling party without asking you. Even the Deputy Speaker did it. This undermines your vote,” he said.
He further accused the Speaker of failing to uphold the Constitution by not acting on the matter, suggesting that this neglect amounts to violating the oath of office.
“We now have a Parliament whose authority is compromised. Yet this House wants to pass 21 bills, including the Electoral Process Bill 2026,” Kalaba said.
He argued that, under the current circumstances, Parliament lacked the moral authority to make laws on behalf of the public.
Kalaba also highlighted the numerical shift in favour of the ruling party, noting that while they had 85 MPs in 2021, they now hold 132 seats due to defections — a situation he maintained did not reflect the people’s mandate.
“This Parliament lacks the moral authority to make laws for you. The ruling party had eighty-five MPs in twenty twenty-one. Today with defectors they control hundred and thirty-two. That is not your mandate,” he stressed.
Kalaba called on President Hakainde Hichilema to invoke Article 92 to dissolve Parliament, saying the Head of State swore to defend the Constitution and must return power to the people.
He added that democracy should remain the ultimate goal, with sovereignty resting in the hands of citizens.
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