Parliament's First Priority Should Be Accountability, Not Presidential Tenure – Mzeziti

Mwanza argues that it is particularly troubling that, barely two weeks into Parliament's business, legislators are entertaining discussions about presidential tenure when the country faces pressing governance, economic and human rights challenges that demand urgent parliamentary scrutiny. She questions the apparent urgency to extend the tenure of a President whose administration is facing serious questions about public financial management, rising living costs, fuel prices, human rights and the shrinking of political and civic space.

For Mwanza, Parliament should first be demanding answers about the government's governance record, not entertaining conversations about extending presidential tenure.

She points to the Auditor General's 2025 Report, which has exposed significant weaknesses in public financial management across government institutions.

Mwanza highlighted findings from the Auditor General’s Report, including K3.56 billion in outstanding obligations at the Ministry of Health, K626.64 million in uncollected mining penalties, irregularities exceeding K72 million under the Farmer Input Support Programme (FISP), and 5,568 confiscated Mukula logs that could not be accounted for.

“Why these findings are not attracting the urgency they deserve in Parliament. legislators should be demanding explanations from responsible ministries, interrogating the circumstances surrounding the identified irregularities, establishing whether public resources have been lost, pursuing recoveries where necessary and ensuring that those responsible are held accountable.”

She further argues that the economic pressures facing ordinary Zambians should be central to parliamentary debate.

Mwanza also drew attention to the European Union Election Observation Mission's report, which highlighted several concerning irregularities and shortcomings in the just-concluded elections and made recommendations aimed at strengthening Zambia's electoral process. Among these is the call for greater transparency in the publication of election results.

"These recommendations should be receiving serious parliamentary attention. Legislators should be debating how to implement the proposed electoral reforms, strengthen the transparency and credibility of election results, and address the shortcomings identified by the observation mission."

She also points to the human rights situation, citing concerns raised by Human Rights Watch regarding restrictions on fundamental freedoms, political dissent, and shrinking civic space, particularly in relation to freedom of assembly and association.

“Why is Parliament silent about the abuses and injustices documented by the Human Rights Watch.  Where is the outrage for the documented 14 cases of apparent enforced disappearances and 61 cases in which detainees, their lawyers or relatives alleged beatings and other physical abuse during arrest or detention. Instead, parliamentarians are proposing an increase in presidential term limits under an administration facing serious human rights concerns."

She argues that these concerns should compel Parliament to examine the protection of freedom of expression, peaceful assembly, association and the rights of citizens to hold public officials accountable without fear of intimidation. For Mwanza, these are not peripheral issues. They go to the heart of democratic governance and the constitutional responsibilities of Parliament.