Zambia president approves law expanding parliament months before election

Zambia's President Hakainde Hichilema on Thursday signed into law constitutional changes that will expand the country's parliament.

The changes increase the number of members of parliament to around 280 from 167 currently by creating more constituencies, reserving 40 new seats for women, youth and people with disabilities, and allowing the president to appoint 11 members instead of eight previously.

Hichilema, who will run for a second presidential term in the August 2026 election, said during a signing ceremony that the changes were being made in good faith and there was adequate consultation.

He previously argued that some constituencies were too big for effective service delivery and should be split into smaller ones.

Some opposition politicians have criticised the move to increase the number of members of parliament at a time when the country is still emerging from a protracted debt crisis, but President Hichilema maintains it will improve service delivery.