The Speaker of the National Assembly of Zambia Rt. Hon. Nelly B.K. Mutti, SC, MP, FARPRA, has reaffirmed her unwavering commitment to regional parliamentary diplomacy and people-to-people cooperation. This was during a courtesy call paid on the Speaker by Honourable Minister Richard Chimwendo, MP and Leader of Government Business from the Parliament of Malawi at Parliament Buildings in Lusaka on Tuesday, 24th June 2025.
Speaking during the courtesy call, Speaker Mutti, extended a warm welcome to the visiting delegation, pointing to the deep rooted historical, cultural and political bonds that unite Zambia and Malawi. “It is our obligation to welcome you home. We are separated by artificial boundaries,” the Speaker stated, reflecting the kinship that defines the bilateral relationship between the two neighbouring countries.
Speaker Mutti further highlighted several milestones in Zambia-Malawi parliamentary cooperation, including joint participation in regional forums such as the SADC Parliamentary Forum and the Inter-Parliamentary Union, mutual support in leadership elections and previous exchange visits focused on legislative reform and monetary policy. She praised Malawi’s commitment to ongoing collaboration and encouraged more structured dialogue and benchmarking to improve governance and legislative effectiveness.
In his remarks, Hon. Chimwendo commended Zambia for its longstanding solidarity, particularly recalling Zambia’s support during Malawi’s time of famine and during the recent national tragedy involving the loss of Malawi’s Vice President and when Zambia participated in the joint rescue mission. He described the Zambia-Malawi relationship as “strong, open and rooted in shared language, culture and mutual respect.”
Malawian Leader of the House also noted the mutual challenges both nations face, particularly the low representation of women in parliament and emphasized the importance of continued inter-parliamentary exchange in addressing these gaps.
The visit served as a valuable platform for sharing best practices in parliamentary governance, with particular focus on the roles of the Business Committee and Leader of Government Business in legislative processes. Discussions also centred on enhancing parliamentary autonomy, understanding the rules that govern the National Assembly of Zambia, effective programming of parliamentary business, and promoting oversight and public participation in the democratic process.
