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Patriotic Front (PF) Chairperson for Information and Publicity, Emmanuel Mwamba has called on Speaker of the National Assembly Nelly Mutti to declare the Nchelenge Constituency seat vacant.
Mwamba argued that area PF lawmaker, Dr. Simon Mwale, had openly identified himself with the ruling United Party for National Development (UPND) and pledged his support to President Hakainde Hichilema—actions he said amounted to “crossing the floor.
In a statement issued in Lusaka on Sunday, Mwamba said this development required the Speaker to invoke constitutional provisions by declaring the seat vacant, paving the way for a by-election in which Mwale would be ineligible to recontest.
“The 2016 constitutional amendment introduced a crucial change to the law. It raised the stakes for floor-crossing by ensuring that any Member of Parliament who switches parties is automatically barred from running in the subsequent by-election,” Mwamba said.
He added that this effectively ended the practice of lawmakers switching allegiances for political gain.
Mwamba also referenced a 2020 Constitutional Court ruling involving former Roan MP Chishimba Kambwili, who was unseated by the Speaker for alleged floor-crossing.
The court held that while the Speaker had acted unconstitutionally by unilaterally interpreting the law, Kambwili’s seat was nonetheless considered vacant due to his decision to join the National Democratic Congress (NDC).
Mwamba maintained that Mwale’s declaration of support for President Hichilema and identification with the UPND squarely fell within the scope of floor-crossing as defined by law.
According to constitutional provisions, once an MP crosses the floor, the Speaker is required to declare the seat vacant, which could trigger a by-election.
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