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Speaker of the National Assembly Nelly Mutti, has declared the Chawama seat held by Tasila Lungu vacant, following a vote by Members of Parliament, citing Article 72(2)(c) of the Constitution of Zambia.
This follows a resolution by the National Assembly to invoke Article 72(8), which permits the Speaker to notify the Electoral Commission of Zambia (ECZ) of a vacancy.
Delivering her ruling in Parliament on Friday, Mutti said she would inform the ECZ of the vacancy in the Chawama parliamentary seat.
The decision stems from Tasila’s prolonged absence, deemed indefinite, amid delays in burying her father, former President Edgar Lungu, leaving Chawama constituents without representation.
The Speaker gave Tasila a compassionate window to mourn her late father and return within 14 days after Parliament re-opened in September, however the 14 days passed and Mwansa did not show up.
“While I accept that the Committee on Privileges and Absences conducted a thorough examination of the matter, I do not agree with its recommendation to allow Ms Lungu to attend sittings of the House virtually,” Mutti said.
She noted that Tasila had not provided representation to the people of Chawama Constituency since June 2025, and there was no clear indication of when the legal process surrounding the burial of her late father would conclude.
Mutti stated that a precedent had been set in the ruling on a Point of Order raised on 15 October 2024 by Katombora lawmaker Clement Andeleki regarding the status of the then Petauke MP, Emmanuel Banda, following his absence from the House after disappearing from Chipata Central Hospital.
“In that case, the House resolved that I invoke Article 72(8) of the Constitution by informing the ECZ of the vacancy in the Petauke Central parliamentary seat,” she said.
Tasila, however, expressed concern following news reports indicating that her parliamentary seat had been declared vacant.
In a message to the people of Chawama, Mwansa said she was aware of the circulating reports and reassured residents that she had continued to represent them, even virtually, during what she described as a deeply painful mourning period for her late father, who has not yet been laid to rest.
Mwansa explained that Parliament provided a virtual participation facility for all MPs, which she had utilised to continue discharging her duties.
Despite the difficult circumstances, her team of councillors, community members and constituency staff had remained active in serving the community, she said.
Mwansa highlighted ongoing community projects, including more than 12 kilometres of paved roads, mother-and-child shelters, drainage works, classroom blocks, weekly community meetings, school feeding programme engagements, church activities and funeral support to grieving families.
She also expressed gratitude to residents for the love, prayers and kindness they had shown her from the time she served as a councillor to her current role as MP.
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