224 New MPs Report to Parliament Today as National Assembly Expands to 226 Seats, But Mandevu and Lumezi North Still Without Winners

LUSAKA. Zambia's newly elected Members of Parliament are reporting to the National Assembly today for registration and orientation, according to a report by News Diggers, as the country prepares to open its 14th National Assembly. 224 newly elected MPs are expected to report. That number reflects the expanded size of Parliament itself. The National Assembly has grown from 156 seats to 226 following the Electoral Commission of Zambia's creation of 70 new constituencies spread across all 10 provinces, part of the changes brought in under Constitutional Amendment Bill No. 7. Clerk of the National Assembly, Loveness Mayaka, said the registration and orientation process is preparing MPs for the commencement of the 14th National Assembly following the enactment of that amendment last year. Two of the 226 seats will sit empty at today's registration. Mandevu constituency in Lusaka still has no declared winner. On August 18, unknown assailants stormed the results totalling centre for Mandevu, attacked personnel, destroyed result transmission equipment and stole election documentation. Chief Electoral Officer Brown Kasaro said the commission was left with no reliable basis on which to declare a winner in the constituency. On August 29, the ECZ announced it had resolved to hold a fresh parliamentary by-election for Mandevu, on a date to be communicated in due course. Civil society organisations have endorsed the decision, saying it is the appropriate response given the compromised electoral materials. Lumezi North's parliamentary poll was never held at all. NRPUP candidate Clement Mwale, who was contesting the seat, died on July 16. Under Constitutional Amendment No. 13 of 2025, a candidate's death during the process triggers a mandatory cancellation of the election in that constituency and gives the sponsoring party 30 days to nominate a replacement. The ECZ has yet to publicly set a date for the rescheduled Lumezi North poll. So the 14th National Assembly opens today w