ECHOS OF WAMUYAYAYA: IS PARLIAMENT DEAD?- Linda Kasonde

The role, relevance, and vitality of the Zambian National Assembly have once again come under intense public scrutiny following a reflective and hard-hitting commentary by prominent legal practitioner and civil rights advocate Linda Kasonde. Titled "Echos of Wamuyayaya: Is Parliament Dead?", Kasonde’s commentary draws a sharp line between her childhood recollections of the one-party state era under founding President Kenneth Kaunda and the current state of parliamentary democracy in Zambia. By invoking the political echoes of the past, she challenges contemporary lawmakers and citizens alike to evaluate whether the legislature is fulfilling its foundational mandate as an independent pillar of governance or merely serving as a rubber stamp for the executive arm of government. Kasonde, the former president of the Law Association of Zambia (LAZ) and executive director of the Chapter One Foundation, reflects on growing up during the twilight years of the United National Independence Party (UNIP) single-party dispensation. While acknowledging the benevolent posture often cultivated by political leadership of that era, she notes that the structural absence of robust opposition created an environment where parliamentary oversight was severely constrained. This historical reflection serves as a cautionary tale for modern Zambia, where multi-party democracy was restored in 1991 with the explicit promise of establishing a vibrant separation of powers. However, decades into the pluralistic political experiment, civil society voices frequently question whether genuine accountability has truly taken root within the august House. At the heart of Kasonde's critique is the persistent tension surrounding executive dominance over legislative affairs. Critics and governance experts have long argued that Zambia's political framework grants sweeping powers to the presidency, often marginalizing backbenchers and reducing the National Assembly's capacity to initiate independent policy o