The Commonwealth Parliamentary Association (CPA) has elected Hon Emilia Monjowa Lifaka, Deputy Speaker of the National Assembly of Cameroon and Vice-Chairperson of the CPA Executive Committee, as Chairperson of the Executive Committee. Hon Lifaka, who is from the Africa Region of the CPA, was elected at the 63rd CPA General Assembly held on 7th November, 2017, in Dhaka, Bangladesh.  She polled 107 votes while her closest rival, Hon Nikki Rattle of the Cook Islands in the Pacific Region, polled 70 votes.
Hon Lifaka, who has been a Parliamentarian  for fifteen years and has been involved  in the activities of the CPA for over a decadeassured Parliamentarians that she was determined to ensure the CPA achieved its goals for the benefit of parliaments and humanity at large. She further pledged to pursue the numerous reforms embarked on by the outgoing Chairperson, Rt Hon Shirin Sharmin Chaudhury, Speaker of the Bangladesh Parliament, and Mr Akbar Khan, Secretary-General of the CPA. Hon Lifaka is the first African to be elected Chairperson of the Association in the 106 years of the CPA’s existence. She holds office until the 66th General Assembly in 2020.
Zambia was represented at the General Assembly by the First Deputy Speaker, Hon Catherine Namugala, MP, Mr Lazarous Chungu Bwalya, MP, Regional Representative for Central Africa, Ms Elizabeth Phiri, MP, Second Vice - President of the CPA Zambia Branch, Mr Machila Jamba, MP, Executive  Committee Member VI of the CPA Zambia Branch and Dr Mwilola Imakando, MP.