UPND MP CHAMA CALLS FOR HICHILEMA TO REMAIN IN OFFICE BEYOND 2031
UPND MP CHAMA CALLS FOR HICHILEMA TO REMAIN IN OFFICE BEYOND 2031
UPND proportional representation Member of Parliament Florence Chileshe Chama has called on women to support President Hakainde Hichilema’s development agenda and backed the idea of him remaining in office beyond 2031.
Chama made the remarks in a video shared by Diamond TV while thanking President Hichilema for the nomination of women to Parliament under Zambia’s new proportional representation system.
“As women, we don’t want democracy; we want development in Zambia by supporting our President to go beyond 2031,” Chama said.
She also urged women to support the Government’s development programmes.
“Ifwe nga banamayo banankonko (as women), we are there for this development, we salute this government,” she said.
Chama is among the 17 women nominated by the ruling United Party for National Development (UPND) to fill seats in the National Assembly under the new proportional representation system. The system provides for 40 additional parliamentary seats, comprising 20 reserved for women, 15 for youths and five for persons with disabilities.
Her remarks have attracted attention because they come against the constitutional framework governing presidential terms.
Under Article 106 of the Constitution, a person who has twice held the office of President is not eligible for election as President. Recent reporting on Chama’s remarks has consequently linked her call for Hichilema to remain in office beyond 2031 to the debate over the presidential term limit.
President Hichilema, who secured a second term in the August 13, 2026 presidential election, is therefore currently serving what is constitutionally his second elected term.
Chama did not explain in the video how the President could remain in office beyond 2031 or whether this would require constitutional changes.
Her comments have since added to the ongoing public debate over constitutionalism, presidential term limits, political representation and the role of women in Zambia’s development.