Speaker of the National Assembly of Zambia, The Rt Hon. Ms Nelly Butete Kashumba Mutti, MP, FAPRA, has been elected to sit on the Apex Body of the Inter Parliamentary Union (IPU) Executive Committee. The election was held during the just ended 147th Inter Parliamentary Union Assembly and Related Meetings being hosted by Angola in its capital city, Luanda.

In an interview after her election, Speaker Mutti emphasized the need for stronger cooperation among parliaments as well as the strengthening of parliamentary diplomacy as being among her key priorities as she assumes this new role. Speaker Mutti has also pledged to ensure that she uses her position to advocate for programmes that foster women participation in politics and other rights of marginalized groups such as youths and persons with disabilities. Peace and security in the various geo political areas of the world is another subject of interest for Speaker Mutti as she vehemently stated that the two are precursors for any development.

The 147th IPU which was being held under the theme “Parliamentary action for peace, justice and strong institutions (SDG 16)” also elected the Speaker of the Parliament of the United Republic of Tanzania, The Rt Hon. Dr Tulia Ackson, MP, as the President of the IPU after beating three other contestants from Malawi, Senegal and Somalia. Others elected to the Executive Committee from the Africa Geo political group include Honourable Godswill Obot Akpabio, Speaker of the Senate of Nigeria.

Speaker Mutti, who recently scooped the prestigious 2023 Commonwealth Parliamentarian of the year award at the just ended 66th Commonwealth Parliamentary Conference in Accra, Ghana also sits on the Commonwealth Speakers and Presiding Officers Conference Executive (CSPOC) as Executive Committee Member.