Speaker Mutti announces Ezra Tembo as leader of the opposition in Parliament

SPEAKER of the National Assembly Nelly Mutti on Tuesday announced new leadership for the opposition in Parliament, naming members of the National Reconciliation Party for Unity and Prosperity (NRPUP) to key positions.

Mutti announced NRPUP president Ezra Tembo as the recognized Leader of the Opposition in Parliament.

She also named Milenge MP Gystave Chonde as Party Whip and Nyimba MP Paul Lungu as Deputy Party Whip.

The appointments fill the opposition leadership structure in the House following changes in party representation.

Under the new arrangement, Tembo will lead opposition business in Parliament, coordinate responses to government policy, and represent the opposition in parliamentary liaison.

Chonde, as Party Whip, will be responsible for mobilizing opposition members, ensuring attendance and maintaining party discipline during debates and votes. Lungu will deputize in that role.

The Speaker said the appointments take immediate effect.

The NRPUP recently increased its presence in the National Assembly, positioning it as the largest opposition grouping in the House.

(Mwebantu, Tuesday, 20th October, 2026)