Speaker Declares Chawama Seat Vacant After Tasila Lungu’s Long Absence

Speaker Declares Chawama Seat Vacant After Tasila Lungu’s Long Absence

LUSAKA — The Chawama parliamentary seat is now officially vacant, following a declaration by National Assembly Speaker Nelly Mutti after Member of Parliament Tasila Lungu Mwansa failed to attend parliamentary sessions for months on end, beginning in June.

Mwansa has been outside Zambia since  the death of her father, former President Edgar Chagwa Lungu, who passed away on 5 June. She has remained in South Africa throughout the mourning period and while finalising family matters ahead of his burial delays that have drawn increasing public attention.

During Friday’s session, Speaker Mutti informed the House that Mwansa had not complied with a directive issued at the start of the Fifth Session of the Thirteenth National Assembly, which required her to appear in person within 14 days. Citing Standing Orders 215 and 243, Mutti moved a motion asking whether Article 72(8) of the Constitution which allows for the removal of an MP who is absent without permission for an entire session should be applied.

“I now put the question,” Mutti said. The House responded with a clear majority in favour, authorising the Speaker to formally notify the Electoral Commission of Zambia that the seat had fallen vacant.

Later, Mwansa released a letter addressed directly to Chawama residents, acknowledging the development and expressing appreciation for their support. She described the ongoing grief her family has endured since her father’s death and noted her attempts to stay engaged with parliamentary duties remotely from South Africa.

She pointed to development initiatives launched before her departure, including the paving of over 12 kilometres of roads, drainage upgrades, construction of mother-and-child shelters and classroom blocks, school feeding programmes, and assistance to bereaved families. She commended local councillors and community leaders for keeping these projects moving in her absence.

The letter, however, did not state when she intends to return or address the growing questions about the length of her stay abroad. Her prolonged absence has stirred political speculation, particularly given her family’s prominence and the tense atmosphere surrounding figures from the former ruling party.

Supporters of the late president have voiced concerns about what they see as a pattern of legal scrutiny targeting former officials. The government has consistently maintained that all ongoing investigations are conducted through due process and denies any suggestion of political targeting. While Mwansa has not indicated she is personally involved in any legal matter, her extended stay overseas has only deepened public curiosity and political chatter.

Since former President Lungu’s death, the family has remained under close public watch. The government has said President Hakainde Hichilema maintained regular contact with the Lungu family throughout the former leader’s illness and was kept informed of medical developments. No official source has linked his death to political causes, though some supporters have expressed unease about the broader climate facing the family since the 2021 change in administration.

With the Chawama seat now vacant, the Electoral Commission of Zambia is expected to set a date for a by-election in the coming weeks. In the interim, ward development committees and local administrative structures will manage constituency affairs until a new representative is elected.

Mwansa closed her letter with a personal note: “I love you and miss you all,” urging Chawama residents to remain united and strong during what she called a painful and trying period for her family.