09/06/2026
WHAT YOU SHOULD EXPECT FROM YOUR MEMBERS OF PARLIAMENT
The primary constitutional duty of a Member of Parliament (MP) in Zambia is lawmaking (legislation), alongside three other core responsibilities outlined in Articles 62 and 63 of the Constitution of Zambia.Together, the primary duties of Zambian MPs are categorized into four core functions:
1. LEGISLATION (Lawmaking)
Laws: MPs debate, amend, and vote on public and private bills to formulate new national laws.
Statutes: They repeal or alter outdated and existing legislation to reflect current societal needs.
2. OVERSIGHT
Executive Accountable: MPs scrutinize government ministries, policies, and actions to ensure transparent governance.
Scrutiny: They sit on specialized Parliamentary Committees to audit public spending and investigate institutional misuse of funds.
: They check executive power by ratifying major presidential appointments, such as the Chief Justice.
3. BUDGET APPROVAL
Public Funds: Every financial year, MPs debate, adjust, and approve the national budget.
Debt: They review and authorize public debt before the government contracts it.
4. REPRESENTATION
Voice: MPs serve as the literal mouthpieces for their constituencies, raising community issues during parliamentary debates.
Development: They facilitate local infrastructure and social service improvements by utilizing the Constituency Development Fund (CDF).
Engagement: They hold consultative meetings within their districts to explain government policies and collect citizen feedback.
Oscar Choza for Chavuma 2026