Inside the Classroom Shaping Zambia’s Next Generation of Lawmakers

By Daily News Reporter 

In a quiet training room in Lusaka, far from the charged atmosphere of campaign rallies and political slogans, a different kind of politics is taking shape—one rooted not in promises, but in purpose.

Here, aspiring Members of Parliament sit side by side, notebooks open, listening intently as facilitators unpack the realities of legislative work. There are no cheering crowds, no party regalia—just a shared recognition that leadership requires more than ambition.

This is the setting of a capacity-building workshop organised by the Zambia Centre for Interparty Dialogue (ZCID) in partnership with the Institute of Parliamentary Studies and Training—an initiative designed to prepare aspiring candidates for the complex responsibilities of Parliament.

At the heart of the training is a simple but often misunderstood idea: being an MP is not the same as being in the Executive.

“Many candidates go into elections with good intentions but limited understanding of their actual mandate,” explains Tenison Nyangu, Executive Director of the Institute. “They promise to fix everything—from roads to jobs—when some of these responsibilities lie outside Parliament.”

For years, Zambian elections have been marked by ambitious campaign promises—some achievable, others not. The result has often been frustration among voters and pressure on MPs to deliver beyond their constitutional role.

According to Deputy Clerk of the National Assembly (Administration), Seage Samwika, this gap between expectation and reality weakens democratic accountability.

“Parliament’s effectiveness depends on how well its members understand their roles,” he says.

 “Law-making, oversight, and representation are not just concepts—they are the foundation of our democracy.”

Participants are taken through these pillars in detail, learning how laws are formulated, how government actions are scrutinised, and how constituencies are represented without overstepping institutional boundaries.

Among the participants is Ms. Brenda J Kibombwe Chitembure, an aspiring candidate from Chilanga Constituency. Like many others, she entered the programme with a strong desire to solve community problems—but is now rethinking how best to do so.

“In our communities, people expect an MP to solve personal and immediate problems,” she reflects. “But this training is helping us understand that our role is also to create systems and policies that bring lasting change.”

Chilanga one of Lusaka’s most densely populated areas, faces persistent challenges—poor sanitation, flooding, and  many other iissues. Rather than making sweeping promises, Ms Kibombwe now speaks of community-driven initiatives and legislative advocacy.

Her proposed “Keep Chilanga Clean” campaign, she says, will rely not just on local mobilisation, but on pushing for stronger policies and accountability frameworks.

Yet even as the programme builds capacity, it also exposes deeper structural issues. Of the 15 participants, only four are women—a statistic that organisers say reflects broader gender imbalances in politics.

And Seage Samwika raised the concern, pointing to the Constitution of Zambia (Amendment) Act No. 13 of 2025, which includes provisions aimed at promoting affirmative action.

“This is not very encouraging,” he admits. “But we hope more women will take advantage of these opportunities and step forward.”

For those present, the training is not just about skills—it is also about representation, inclusion, and reshaping who gets to lead.

Beyond individual aspirations, the workshop carries a broader ambition: strengthening Zambia’s democracy itself.

Organisers argue that democracy is not only about elections, but about informed participation—by both leaders and citizens.

A representative from ZCID notes that voters often place unrealistic demands on MPs, while candidates, in turn, make promises they cannot fulfil.

“It becomes a cycle of misunderstanding,” the representative says. “This training is about breaking that cycle—ensuring that leaders are honest about what they can do, and that citizens understand what to expect.”

As the sessions unfold, what emerges is a quieter, more deliberate vision of politics—one less focused on spectacle and more on substance.

She also added that , the lessons are already reshaping priorities.

“We want to serve our people, but we also need to be realistic,” she said. “If we understand our role properly, we can deliver better.”

As Zambia looks toward future elections, initiatives like this may prove pivotal. In a political environment often driven by rhetoric, the emphasis on knowledge, clarity, and accountability offers a refreshing alternative.

Back in the training room, the discussions continue—probing, practical, and occasionally uncomfortable. But for those issues, the experience is transformative.

Because beyond the campaign posters and political slogans, this is where leadership truly begins: not in what is promised, but in what is understood.