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That Joe Biden was a Senator for 36 years made me think of the longevity of some Zambian MPs or lack thereof. As we head to August 12, it seems there will be major shake-ups on the parliamentary scene; some will hang on, others will be shown the exit. #Thread
Zambia has a quite a high turnover of MPs, due to stiff competition in parties, but also the voters’ dismay with the performance of their reps, those that disappear only to show up after five years. Unnecessary (& sometimes induced) defections and deaths are the other reasons.
Given Lubinda and Jack Mwiimbu may well be the longest-serving MPs in the current Parliament, both having been first elected in 2001 on the UPND ticket. Apart from these two, I'm not sure there's still anyone else from the 2001 crop.
The scramble for adoption is on, ahead of Parliament’s dissolution on May 12. The shakeup will be necessary to get rid of some deadwood, those who just make the numbers in the House and say nothing – whether nonsensical or progressive.
Nowhere, it seems, is the race more heated than in the PF. Let’s start with Lusaka. In Kabwata, Lubinda is under siege from two aspirants breathing heavily on his neck. Danny Yenga and Clement Tembo are on a mission to dislodge Lubinda who’s held the seat for 20 years.
Tembo was all over town in 2016 but lost. Post-election, PF gave him kasaka ka ndalama to dish out under the guise of a ‘presidential empowerment scheme’. That kept him quiet for as long as it lasted. He’s back, but he may just lose it to Yenga who is also armed with his own
kasaka of giveaways. If Lubinda wants a fifth term, he may need a miracle to be adopted.
In the populous Matero, opponents set a trap for incumbent MP Lloyd Kaziya and he walked right into it. He’s lately been in the news prophesying doom for his party. He’s out, and that leaves Dickson Jere with a clear lane, unless Miles Sampa decides to leave the council.
But between the two, Jere is ahead, he’s been canvassing the last one year with donations and appearances, while Miles was busy on Boba TV, and the incumbent was lost in his own backyard. Miles is – what did Malembe Malembe say? –a child of the house and that’s what may save him.
In only her first term, Dudu seems to have little, if any, challenge in the mayadi-dominated Lusaka Central. All she needs to do is keep her party boys in Bauleni happy and they will be on the ground in her name.
In Kanyama, incumbent Elizabeth Phiri was among the first people by Sata’s side at the formation of PF in 2001. She's been almost a permanent fixture in Kanyama with her works, but she waited 15 years before having a bite at it in 2016. She will most likely be easily readopted.
In Munali, Nkandu Luo, accused of being a no-show MP, may be overrun by Antonio Mwanza who tried in 2016 under FDD. But it may well be a battle of sisters if Mumbi Phiri decides to return to a seat she won in 2006. Like Lubinda, Luo needs divine intervention in Munali.
TBC
TBC
