By Elias Kamanga
A QUESTION ABOUT THE CEREMONIAL OPENING OF THE FOURTEENTH NATIONAL ASSEMBLY
Someone please educate me—but I would genuinely prefer to hear from people who actually know the Parliamentary and State ceremonial procedures, rather than the usual social media noise-makers.- Jack’s of all trades and experts at none!
Is the official opening of the First Session of the Fourteenth National Assembly going to take place without the usual Ceremonial Procession?
I ask because, traditionally, one of the most impressive features of the State Opening is the ceremonial procession involving City and Municipal Mayors and Town Clerks.
The Mayoral Procession is followed by the Judicial Procession, led by the Chief Justice and Judges of the Superior Courts. This is followed by the arrival of the President, who inspects the Guard of Honour before being ushered into the Chamber by the Speaker.
What many people may not appreciate is that this ceremony does not simply happen on the day.
It requires days of meticulous rehearsals and coordination involving Mayors, Town Clerks, the Zambia Police Service, including mounted and motorised escorts, the Defence Force, Judiciary, State House and, of course, the relevant officers at Cabinet Office responsible for State functions.
For several years, when I served as Mayor, we would converge in Lusaka about a week before the opening of Parliament. We rehearsed the procession repeatedly, from the Lusaka Civic Centre to Parliament and back, until every movement, formation and timing was perfected.
That is why I am curious about this year’s arrangement
According to the National Assembly calendar, the President is expected to officially open Parliament on Friday, 9 October 2026.
Yet, as of today, 6 October, my understanding is that the country’s newly elected Mayors have not yet been installed.