GOVERNANCE ACTIVIST CONDEMNS SPEAKER’S ROLE IN BILL 7 DEBATE
Governance activist Laura Miti has raised concerns over the involvement of the Speaker of the National Assembly Nelly Mutti in the promotion of Bill 7.
Ms. Miti said she could not recall a time when a Speaker had publicly taken a position on legislation, noting that such actions fell outside the expected role of presiding officers.
She argued that the office of the Speaker was meant to uphold neutrality and preserve the “little decorum of offices” as well as the separation of powers.
She questioned how the Speaker would preside fairly and objectively over proceedings if she openly pushed for a controversial piece of legislation.
Ms. Miti further wondered why the Speaker had been discussing Bill 7 with traditional leaders.
According to her, no clear explanation had been provided as to why chiefs supported the bill, or whether their views extended to other legislation such as the Public Gathering Act or the Political Party Act.
The activist pointed out that the Political Party Act, in particular, could advance democracy by ensuring greater female representation in elections–an objective that Bill 7 was said to be pursuing.
She said it was unclear whether the Speaker had raised such alternatives with the chiefs during their discussions.
Calling for restraint, Ms. Miti appealed to the Speaker to maintain impartiality and avoid direct involvement in legislative advocacy.
Does any one in Zambia know where their role ends?The president can act as minister of finance in the presence of the incumbent minister, and so on and so on.
You’re as a commissioner is always on social media commenting on politics and in some cases taking sides. So what makes you special to do that and stop others from doing what you do? Those are double standards and lack of fairness. It’s immoral and should be stopped. The people opposed to Bill 7 were objecting it on the basis of time and one of those against it
has now been jailed. You can’t stop government from doing it’s work on the basis of not liking the bill. Muti had travelled around the some province and chiefs and citizens approached her and were loudly lobbying her pass the bill. Those against were busy at one time in the media criticising and claiming it had been killed forgetting it was the executive that had paused it. As things stand the bill is still in the house and she has a right to comment. The bill has not been withdrawn! At this moment it’s only the government out promoting it and there is no section of society that has voiced opposition to it. As it stands, I personally don’t like it’s enterity. That is democracy. You can go and lobby the MPs to either reject it on substance or force amendments. In the he past, we had Bill 10 that was defeated on the parliamentary floor. Zambia’s population has grown to 20M and so many changes have taken place you can’t expect the some number of people was making laws to remain static. A new parliament an be belt and the current parliamentary building can be turned into an international convention or entertainment centre. I am sure you are aware that the opposition hasn’t been a real opposition because all they have been doing is opposing every government proposal without suggesting any alternative. If you mean well, you will reflect and stop acting like the current opposition. Please open up and the nation what you oppose on the bill and suggest an alternative. Don’t tell us about the timing. We have heard enough about the timing from the Rolling Stone opposition! We need a debate of ideas not noise. Noise makes the citizens fatigued and switch off. Look at the Ester Lungu nonsense. One can be excused to think they have no brains, but that’s exactly how the PF operates and we have been there before!
The Speaker of our National Assembly promoting Legislation of a Bill ??
And not just a bill, but one rendered unconstitutional and illegal by the Constitutional Court, and the Institution which makes laws is promoting that Bill .
What a mess we have found ourselves in.
This is a first in the history of Zambia.
On other people ‘s Ballots will be Cash for work programs, CDF, Imita Ufole etc
On my Ballot on 13th August 2026
Will be
Hakainde’s Executive Misrule
Nellie Mutti ‘s Parliament
Mumba Malila’s Judiciary
The Axis
The Axis will fall on 13th August,2026