Speaker of the National Assembly of Zambia, the Rt Honourable Nelly B.K. Mutti, SC, MP, FAPRA, on Wednesday, 26^th February, 2025, met with Provincial Ministers at Parliament Buildings to discuss ways to enhance their engagement in legislative debates.

Speaker Mutti said the meeting was an important opportunity to exchange views on how Provincial Ministers could contribute more effectively to Parliamentary proceedings. She noted that although they play a crucial role in provincial governance, their participation in debates during Parliamentary proceedings has been relatively limited.

The Speaker highlighted that Article 117(3) of the Constitution of Zambia designates Provincial Ministers as heads of government in their respective provinces, responsible for implementing national policies and overseeing the performance of provincial and local authorities. However, she pointed out that the Constitution and the National Assembly of Zambia Standing Orders, 2024, do not explicitly define their roles within the National Assembly.

She said that under the current Parliamentary framework, Provincial Ministers do not respond to questions raised on the Floor of the House, as this responsibility is designated to Cabinet Ministers. As a result, only Cabinet Ministers are mandated to issue ministerial statements and respond to policy-related queries.

“There is a need for continued dialogue on this matter to provide more specific functions for Provincial Ministers in the House, which would facilitate their greater participation in Parliamentary debates,” Speaker Mutti said.

Meanwhile, Minister of Copperbelt Province, Hon. Elisha Matambo, expressed gratitude to Speaker Mutti for the engagement. He said that Provincial Ministers are eager to contribute more effectively to Parliamentary discourse and that any measures to enhance their participation would be welcome, as this would allow them to better represent the interests of their respective provinces.