Activist Calls Speaker’s Move on Chawama Constituency Insensitive and Wasteful
Governance activist Sam Zulu has questioned the Speaker’s decision to declare the Chawama constituency seat vacant, describing the move as insensitive and a waste of public resources.
The Speaker’s ruling follows the absence of Tasila Lungu, Member of Parliament for Chawama, who has been in South Africa mourning her father, former 6th Republican President Edgar Lungu, who passed away on June 5, 2025.
Speaking in an interview with Mafken News, Mr. Zulu said the Speaker had several alternatives that could have avoided perceptions of political targeting and cruelty.
He suggested that granting an extended leave of absence, enabling remote participation, or postponing the vacancy motion until after the burial and legal processes were concluded would have been more humane.
Mr. Zulu argued that the decision not only disadvantages the constituents of Chawama but also sets a dangerous precedent for future cases. He described the move as political opportunism and a blatant disregard for the welfare of the people.
