20/10/2026
SPEAKER MUTTI ANNOUNCES NEW OPPOSITION LEADERSHIP IN PARLIAMENT
Speaker of the National Assembly Nelly Mutti has announced new leadership for the Opposition in Parliament.
In a communication to the House on Tuesday, Speaker Mutti named National Reconciliation Party for Unity and Prosperity (NRPUP) President Hon Ezra Tembo- Dag Member of Parliament as the recognized Leader of the Opposition in Parliament.
The Speaker also announced Milenge Member of Parliament Gystave Chonde as Party Whip and Nyimba Member of Parliament Paul Lungu as *Deputy Party Whip.
The announcement confirms the NRPUP as the largest opposition grouping in the House. The party currently holds 75 seats in the National Assembly, comprising 59 constituency seats and 16 proportional representation seats, following the August 2026 general elections.
Under the new arrangement, Hon. Tembo will lead opposition business in Parliament, coordinate responses to government policy, and represent the opposition in parliamentary liaison.
Hon. Chonde, as Party Whip, will be responsible for mobilizing opposition members, ensuring attendance, and maintaining party discipline during debates and votes, deputized by Hon. Lungu.
Speaker Mutti said the appointments take immediate effect.
The announcement comes after weeks of internal contestation within the NRPUP, where some MPs had elected Shiwang'andu MP Stephen Kampyongo to the position. The Speaker's communication has now settled the matter, recognizing Hon. Tembo as the duly elected Leader of the Opposition