The Speaker of the National Assembly of Zambia, the Rt Hon Dr Nelly B K Mutti, SC., MP, FAPRA, has welcomed the continued support of the Czech Republic towards inclusive governance and institutional development in Zambia.
Speaker Mutti made the remarks when the Ambassador of the Czech Republic to Zambia, His Excellency Mr Jiří Kyrián, paid a courtesy call on her at Parliament Buildings on Tuesday, 3rd March, 2026.
The Speaker expressed appreciation for the long-standing and cordial relations between the Republic of Zambia and the Czech Republic, noting that diplomatic ties date back to 1964.
“When a friendship endures for such a long time, it transcends ordinary relations — it becomes family,” she said.
She commended the Czech Republic for its development cooperation programmes in Zambia, particularly in the sectors of agriculture, health, education and governance. Speaker Mutti observed that initiatives supporting small-scale farmers and strengthening agricultural value chains are especially timely as Zambia continues to address the effects of climate change and food insecurity.
On parliamentary matters, the Speaker underscored the importance of strengthening bilateral parliamentary engagement beyond multilateral platforms. She cited the April 2024 visit by the President of the Senate of the Czech Republic as a significant milestone in deepening legislative cooperation and promoting knowledge exchange between the two countries.
Speaker Mutti further highlighted Zambia’s ongoing parliamentary reforms, including the anticipated increase in the number of Members of Parliament from 167 to 280 following the 2026 General Elections, in line with constitutional amendments introducing proportional representation. She noted that the reforms present an important opportunity to enhance inclusivity by increasing the representation of women, youth and persons with disabilities.
“Democracy thrives when diverse voices are represented and when public institutions are accessible to all citizens,” she said.
Meanwhile, Ambassador Kyrián reaffirmed his country’s commitment to promoting democratic governance, human rights and sustainable development. He shared the Czech Republic’s experience in enacting legislation to guarantee accessibility for persons with disabilities within parliamentary institutions, ensuring their full participation in plenary and committee proceedings.
The Ambassador further indicated that while there is currently no dedicated programme in Zambia specifically focusing on parliamentary institutional capacity building, the Czech Republic remains open to considering proposals aimed at strengthening governance systems and institutional development, subject to the availability of resources.
The meeting also explored potential collaboration between the Czech Republic and Zambia’s Parliamentary Caucus on Food Security and Nutrition, in line with the country’s development cooperation framework and focus on nutrition.
Ambassador Kyrián expressed gratitude for the warm reception he has received since assuming office, describing Zambia as his “second home” and reaffirming his commitment to further strengthening the longstanding relations between the two countries.
