Citizen First leader Harry Kalaba has strongly condemned the betrayal of the electorate by Members of Parliament who cross over to the ruling party without seeking fresh mandates. Kalaba asserts that Zambia’s Parliament's constitutional mandate is now in serious question, as it no longer accurately represents the people.

Kalaba's concerns are firmly rooted in the Constitution of Zambia, particularly Article 72, which outlines the specific circumstances under which an MP must vacate office. He cited Article 72 (2)(d), which states that an MP's office becomes vacant if they “resigns from the political party which sponsored the member for election to the National Assembly.” Furthermore, Article 72 (2)(e) stipulates vacation of office if a member “is expelled from the political party which sponsored the member for election to the National Assembly.” Article 72 (2)(g) also applies to independent candidates who join a political party after being elected.

The continued presence of defecting MPs in Parliament, according to Kalaba, severely undermines constitutional integrity. He emphasized that the Constitution is clear: “MPs who abandon the ticket on which they were elected must vacate their seats. But this is not being enforced.” He critically questioned the conduct of presiding authorities, including the Speaker, arguing that their failure to act on these defections weakens constitutional governance and amounts to a violation of their oath of office. The nation has recently witnessed a surge in such defections, including from the former ruling PF and independent Members of Parliament, notably Moses Moyo, the Second Deputy Speaker and Independent MP for Luangeni.

The composition of the House's leadership has also become a point of contention. Kalaba highlighted Article 82 (3) of the Constitution, which mandates that “There shall be two Deputy Speakers of the National Assembly who are not members of the same political party and of the same gender.” He contended that such provisions are designed to safeguard fairness and institutional neutrality, warning that political dominance achieved through defections distorts parliamentary representation and undermines the will of the people.

These critical remarks come at a crucial time as Parliament is considering several legislative measures, including the proposed Electoral Process Bill of 2026. Kalaba strongly argues that under the current compromised circumstances, this Parliament lacks the moral authority to make laws for the public. He pointed out the significant shift in the National Assembly's numerical strength: the ruling party, which had 85 MPs in 2021, now controls 132 seats due to these defections, a situation he firmly states does not reflect the electorate's mandate.

In response to this perceived constitutional crisis, the Citizens First President has urged President Hakainde Hichilema to invoke his constitutional powers under Article 92 to dissolve Parliament and return the decision to the electorate. Kalaba declared, “Mr President, you swore to defend the Constitution. Use Article 92 and dissolve Parliament now. Return power to the people. Democracy must be earned. The people are sovereign.” He reiterated that democracy should remain the ultimate goal, with sovereignty resting squarely in the hands of citizens.