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Nelly Mutti, a lawyer based in Lusaka, replaced Patrick Mariveni in the election in the new government last month.
The Zambian parliament elected its first female speaker, more than a week after the long-time opposition leader, Harkand Hitchlema, was sworn in as the country’s new president.
Nelly Mutti, a Lusaka-based lawyer based in the capital Lusaka, was selected on Friday to replace Patrick Matibini, a retired high court judge who has been a speaker for 10 years.
His term ended after the elections on August 12, when Hicilema defeated the current President Edgar Lungu.
We have just concluded our recognition of Nelly Mutti, the first female speaker of our country, and the two deputy speakers. The first deputy speaker is Attractor Chisangano, and Mr. Moses Moyo is the second deputy speaker. We wish them all the best in their duties in Parliament. pic.twitter.com/FOcYGF9zyP
-Hakainde Hichilema (@HHichilema) September 3, 2021
Mutti was sworn in along with her two deputies – Attractor Chisangano, a member of Hichilema’s United Party for National Development (UPND), and Moses Moyo, who was elected to parliament as an independent candidate.
In his address at the ceremony, Hichilema stated that Mutti’s election supports Zambia’s leading women’s cause.
As a human rights lawyer and former chairman of the country’s Anti-Corruption Commission, Muti will preside over a parliament. The ruling party still needs the cooperation of opposition lawmakers to make constitutional changes.
Hichilema promised to usher in a “new dawn.” He fired several army, police and prison commanders just a few days after taking office.
Opposition and civil society groups have long accused the former government of using security agencies to commit violence and arrest critics.
Hicilema promised to let the parliament operate independently without any influence, and urged legislators to put the well-being of the people first.
He will start the first session of the Zambian unicameral parliament under Muti’s leadership on September 10, the National Assembly, where he is expected to outline his vision for the five-year government term.
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