Speaker of the National Assembly, the Rt Hon Justice Dr Patrick Matibini, SC, MP has congratulated the new Hon Members for winning the Parliamentary elections in their respective constituencies and also congratulated the nominated Members for their nomination. He expressed his congratulations during the three days orientation seminar for newly elected Members of Parliament currently being held at Parliament Buildings.

The Speaker informed the Hon Members that the National Assembly has continued to uphold the practice among Commonwealth countries of holding orientation seminars for new Members of Parliament after every general election. He stated that the objective of the seminar is to orient the new Members of Parliament on the roles and administration of the Zambian Parliament.

The Speaker said that the topics to be presented during the seminar include; the Constitutional Powers of Parliament, Parliamentary Practice and Procedure and Parliamentary etiquette. He also added that Hon Members will be introduced to the Office of the Speaker, Office of the Chief Whip, Office of the Clerk of the National Assembly, Party Organization within Parliament and the complementary roles of Government and the Opposition Political Parties.

The seminar which started on Tuesday, 20th September 2016 will end on Thursday, 22nd September, 2016. After the close of the seminar, elections for the Speaker, the First and Second Deputy Speakers will be held at Parliament Buildings on Friday, 23rd September, 2016 and the elections would be followed by the swearing in of the newly elected Presiding Officers and the Hon Members of Parliament.