The Speaker of the National Assembly, Nelly Mutti, has officially declared the Chawama Constituency seat vacant. This seat was previously held by Tasila Lungu Mwansa, daughter of the late President Edgar Lungu. The declaration follows a vote by Members of Parliament to invoke Article 72(2)(c) of the Constitution of Zambia, which addresses circumstances leading to a vacancy. This development has initiated the process for a by-election, with the Speaker commencing the notification of the Electoral Commission of Zambia as stipulated in Article 72(8) of the Constitution.

The Non-governmental Gender Organisations’ Coordinating Council (NGOCC) has expressed profound sadness over the nullification, describing it as a significant setback for women’s representation in Parliament. Beauty Katebe, NGOCC Board Chairperson, highlighted Zambia’s persistent struggle to achieve meaningful female participation in legislative leadership. Historically, female representation in Parliament has never exceeded 18 percent, and the numbers have continued to decline since the approximately 15 percent recorded in the 2021 general elections. Katebe stated that the nullification of the Chawama seat "yet again, exacerbates the historical challenges of female representation in Parliament."

NGOCC acknowledged the circumstances leading to this unfortunate outcome, noting their consistent advocacy for an amicable resolution to the burial of the Sixth Republican President, Edgar Lungu. The organisation asserted that the prolonged burial impasse had severely hindered Tasila Lungu’s ability to effectively perform her duties as a Member of Parliament. This situation, according to NGOCC, ultimately contributed to the loss of one of the few seats held by women in the legislative body.

In light of the impending by-election, NGOCC has urged all political parties to demonstrate a genuine commitment to increasing female leadership. Katebe specifically called upon parties to adopt female candidates for the upcoming Chawama by-election, emphasizing the need to empower women and prevent inclusion efforts from being reduced to "mere tokenism."

Further context indicates that Hon. Tasila Lungu Mwansa has remained in a state of mourning for approximately six months, as her father, former President Edgar Lungu, has not yet been buried. This situation is reportedly complicated by court injunctions that have prevented his burial. Traditional Zambian and African customs often dictate that children and relatives of the deceased refrain from engaging in official activities until their beloved one is laid to rest, which has further impacted Hon. Lungu’s parliamentary attendance.

Some political observers suggest a strategic timing behind the seat nullification, proposing that the objective is to hold a by-election before December 12, 2025. This date is significant as the Constitution bars any by-election within six months of Parliament's anticipated dissolution in May 2026. This move, it is speculated, is intended to secure additional numbers for the contentious "Bill 7." A historical precedent from 2001, when Chawama residents rejected the then-ruling MMD’s attempts to grab the seat through a politically induced by-election, serves as a warning against such maneuvers, with the opposition candidate triumphing.