EXPANDED PARLIAMENT MUST DELIVER GREATER VALUE
Lusaka… Monday September 7, 2026 (SMART EAGLES)
The expansion of Parliament and the creation of 70 additional constituencies must deliver greater value to taxpayers by strengthening representation and accelerating development, Economist Kelvin Chisanga has said.
Mr Chisanga said the expansion of Parliament presented both a governance opportunity and a fiscal responsibility, arguing that the increase in the number of legislators would inevitably raise recurrent expenditure.
He said the additional costs would include expenditure on Members of Parliament, staff, offices, transport, accommodation and administration.
“The question is therefore not simply whether Zambia can afford more MPs, but whether taxpayers will receive greater value from the additional expenditure,” Mr. Chisanga said.
He stated that the opportunity presented by the expanded constituencies should be linked to stronger Constituency Development Fund (CDF) models of evaluation and project monitoring.
Mr. Chisanga emphasized that the new constituencies should have a Minimum Development Standard covering priority infrastructure such as roads, schools, health facilities, water, energy, digital connectivity and economic facilities.
He also called for the standardisation of constituency and MP offices through clear cost ceilings, while cautioning that office expenditure should not take priority over essential community infrastructure.
According to Mr. Chisanga, CDF should move away from measuring success based on the amount of money disbursed and instead focus on the development assets delivered to communities.
“Every constituency should have a public scorecard covering projects, costs, completion, quality and operational outcomes,” he indicated.
Mr. Chisanga said as Zambia moves into the Grow Zambia Agenda, every additional kwacha of public expenditure should generate greater economic and social value.
“More MPs must mean better representation. More CDF must mean better infrastructure. And more public expenditure must mean stronger base of productive capacity and should trigger improved living standards,” he said.