Speaker of the National Assembly, Rt. Honourable Nelly B K Mutti, MP has been elected to seat on the Standing Committee of the Conference of Speakers and Presiding Officers of the Commonwealth that presides over the affairs of the Conference and makes all the arrangements for the next Conference of Speakers and Presiding Officers. 

Honourable Mutti was elected at the ongoing 26th Conference of Speakers and Presiding Officers of the Commonwealth being held in Canberra, Australia from 3^rd to 6^th January, 2023.

Meanwhile, in delivering a statement at the Conference, Honourable Mutti emphasized that the rapid evolution of technology and its growing use by society requires legislatures to position themselves and ensure that they leave no one behind due to strict adherence to parliamentary traditions, customs and practice. 

She added that in order to increase public participation, Parliaments need to place much reliance on technological innovations and interactive avenues such as websites and social media platforms which provide simplified information, satisfactory dialogue opportunities and provide timely and prompt response to enquiries.

The Speaker said the National Assembly of Zambia has enacted various pieces of legislation which are part of the process of repositioning the institution into an e-Parliament.  Honourable Mutti added that the National Assembly of Zambia has reinforced public participation in its work through various provisions of the 2021 National Assembly of Zambia Standing Orders which include permitting citizens to petition the National Assembly electronically and Committees inviting witnesses to make submissions physically or virtually.

She stated that in addition to the legal framework, the National Assembly of Zambia has aligned its planning instruments with aspirations of the 8^th National Development Plan regarding the enhancement of citizen engagement.

The Conference of Speakers and Presiding Officers of the Commonwealth was created in 1969 and brings together the Speakers and Presiding Officers of national parliaments of the independent sovereign states of the Commonwealth. The Conference aims to maintain, foster and encourage impartiality and fairness on the part of Speakers and Presiding Officers of Parliaments; promote knowledge and understanding of parliamentary democracy in its various forms; and develop parliamentary institutions.