Siavonga tourism limited by lack of airstrip

Siavonga’s tourism and economic potential continues to face serious setbacks due to the district’s lack of a proper airstrip, a situation local leaders say is limiting accessibility for both tourists and investors.

Speaking in an exclusive interview with Zambian Business Times (ZBT), Siavonga District Council Chairperson Given Kwapu said the absence of adequate aviation infrastructure in one of Zambia’s key tourist destinations is a major challenge that the government must urgently address.

Kwapu said it is unacceptable that Siavonga, despite its growing tourism significance, remains without a proper airport or upgraded airstrip capable of accommodating larger aircraft.

He stressed that government, particularly the Ministry of Tourism, should make it mandatory for all major tourist destinations in Zambia to have proper airport facilities.

According to Kwapu, poor accessibility by air continues to negatively affect tourism growth, making it difficult for many local and international visitors to conveniently reach the district. He noted that while towns such as Livingstone have benefited from improved aviation infrastructure, Siavonga has been left behind despite its importance as a tourism center.

Kwapu said improved road and civil aviation infrastructure would significantly boost tourism, attract more investment, and strengthen Siavonga’s contribution to the national economy. Meanwhile, Kwapu revealed that the district’s poor road network and inadequate public services and critical infrastructure gaps are slowing economic growth of the district.

He said despite Siavonga’s growing importance in tourism, fishing, and mining, poor road infrastructure remains a major challenge affecting accessibility, business operations, and overall development. Kwapu told ZBT that poor roads continue to make movement difficult for residents, businesses, and tourists, limiting the district’s ability to fully maximize its economic potential.

He stressed that improved road networks are essential for supporting tourism activities, facilitating industrial operations, and attracting greater investment into the district. The council chairperson also highlighted serious concerns in the health sector, saying Siavonga lacks a proper general hospital and specialized healthcare facilities capable of serving its expanding population and industries.

He explained that the current health facility is old and dilapidated, dating back several decades, and is insufficient for a district experiencing rapid growth. Kwapu said the absence of modern healthcare infrastructure poses risks not only to residents but also to workers and tourists who may require quality medical services.

He noted that Siavonga’s strong fishing, mining, and tourism industries contribute significantly to the local and national econo my, making reliable infrastructure and public services crucial.

According to Kwapu, Siavonga’s annual population growth rate of about 4 percent reflects increasing economic activity and should serve as a clear signal for the government to prioritize infrastructure development. He called for urgent investment in roads, healthcare, and other essential services to ensure Siavonga can sustain its growth and strengthen its contribution to Zambia’s economy

Article by Karen Ngulube

Siavonga’s tourism and economic potential continues to

Are laws passed by MPs who have “crossed” the floor legally binding?

The National Assembly has continued to accelerate the passage of 74 pieces of legislation within a period of two weeks, a move that has raised questions as to whether opposition MPs who have publicly aligned with the ruling United Party for National Development (UPND) can still legitimately participate in parliamentary voting under their original party tickets.

Despite visible political endorsements, campaign participation, and public alignment with rival political structures, a number of these Members of Parliament have continued to occupy opposition seats and participate in parliamentary decision-making.

Meanwhile, speaker of the National Assembly, Nelly Mutti previously ruled that six MPs accused of defection had not crossed the floor due to insufficient evidence, following a point of order raised by Lukashya MP, George Chisanga questioning compliance with Article 72 of the Constitution.

.The Speaker’s ruling cleared Michael Katambo, Sydney Mushanga, Sunday Chanda, Joel Chibuye, Marjorie Nakaponda, and Leevan Chibombwe after they all denied formally defecting to the UPND, stating instead that they had only expressed political interest without completing formal party transition processes.

However, a check by the Zambian Business Times – ZBT revealed emerging contradictions, particularly in cases such as Isoka MP, Marjorie Nakaponda, who is reportedly participating in UPND primary elections for adoption while still officially serving as a Patriotic Front (PF) Member of Parliament.

Speaking in an interview with Zambian Business Times – ZBT, Governance and Electoral Expert, Guess Nyirenda argued that the constitutional interpretation of crossing the floor extends beyond formal resignation and must include political conduct and observable partisan behavior.

“By formal and behaviour, it tells that you have crossed the floor, especially conduct that is politically and partisan motivated, where you are even slurred in the regalia of a political party that did not send you to parliament,” said Nyirenda.

He further stated that once an elected representative begins actively aligning with a different political party, including public endorsement and participation in rival party activities, they effectively cease to represent the electorate under the original mandate.

Nyirenda added that such conduct raises serious constitutional questions about whether affected MPs can legitimately continue to vote on legislation, especially when Parliament is considering a large volume of Bills with national implications.“I can’t go and sit in parliament and debate a bill and on account of my presence, the bill passes or fails, then what I have contributed to becomes now unvoid because I am not part and parcel of that particular institution by virtue of me having abrogated the law,” he explained.

The governance expert told ZBT that the legitimacy of parliamentary outcomes becomes questionable if individuals who have effectively shifted political allegiance continue to participate in legislative voting without triggering seat vacancy provisions.

Meanwhile, attempts to justify such political fluidity have frequently referenced the Chishimba Kambwili precedent, where the former MP maintained his parliamentary seat while associating with the National Democratic Congress (NDC) in a limited capacity.

However, Nyirenda warned that the Kambwili case is often misinterpreted, emphasizing that it was based on a narrow claim of consultancy rather than full political defection.”Using the Kambwili precedent to justify broader political realignment risks distorting constitutional intent and weakening the enforcement of party-based electoral mandates,” he said.

The governance expert further warned that MPs who appear to have shifted political allegiance may eventually face legal and financial accountability, including scrutiny over state resources received while potentially no longer representing their original electoral mandate.

“Zambia’s constitutional framework already provides sufficient clarity, arguing that an MP is expected to complete their term on the ticket under which they were elected unless formal legal processes dictate otherwise,” he said.

Nyirenda also stressed that selective enforcement of defection provisions could undermine public confidence in Parliament, especially if similar conduct produces different legal outcomes depending on political context.

Article by Phillip Sinkala

The National Assembly has continued to accelerate

Rushed 74 bills will backfire like 2016 amendments – Expert

Parliament’s move to process 74 bills within a compressed parliamentary window has triggered fresh governance concerns, with experts warning that the rushed legislative approach risks repeating the same constitutional mistakes made during Zambia’s controversial 2016 amendment process.

Speaking in an interview with Zambian Business Times – ZBT, Governance Expert, Gideon Musonda indicated that the current legislative process has failed the test of meaningful public participation and adequate scrutiny required in democratic lawmaking.

Musonda said while Parliament has powers to suspend Standing Orders and fast-track legislation, the principle of lawmaking requires adequate stakeholder engagement, clause-by-clause scrutiny and sufficient time for Members of Parliament to understand the implications of proposed laws.

“The principle of lawmaking is that it has to be participatory because citizens need to adequately be engaged and stakeholders must be given enough time to scrutinize every law being presented,” he said.

Musonda argued that processing 74 Bills simultaneously within a short parliamentary session had effectively disenfranchised interested stakeholders who could have made meaningful contributions toward improving the proposed legislation.

“The rushed manner in which these Bills are being presented is a disservice to the nation because we may only discover the anomalies later when the laws are being implemented,” he said.

The governance expert warned that Zambia risks repeating the consequences of the 2016 Constitution amendment process, which he said was also rushed and later produced legal complications that continue to haunt the country.

“We all remember that the 2016 amended Constitution was rushed and some provisions were overlooked, and those same provisions came back to haunt the people who rushed the process,” he said.

Musonda questioned why government had waited almost an entire five-year term before suddenly attempting to pass dozens of bills just months before the 2026 general election.

“People are now asking why these bills are being rushed now and whether there is something being manipulated in the manner they are being handled,” he said.

Meanwhile, Musonda accused some opposition Members of Parliament who recently allegedly crossed the floor of compromising the legislature’s oversight role by supporting almost every government position without providing sufficient checks and balances.

He further warned that some of the proposed Bills, particularly the Public Gatherings Bill and the Electoral Process legislation, carry direct implications for Zambia’s democratic and electoral environment ahead of the 2026 elections.

“We all agree that some laws need reform, but they should be replaced with better laws through proper consultation and not through rushed procedures that undermine democracy,” said Musonda.

He maintained that even where Parliament formally complies with Standing Orders, constitutional principles of public participation, transparency and accountability must prevail, warning that failure to respect those principles could eventually see the legislative process challenged before the Constitutional Court.

Article by Philip Sinkala

Parliament’s move to process 74 bills within