Zambia needs shadow MPs – Mushimba
By Ludia Ngwadzai
ORGANISED People’s Party (OPP) president Brian Mushimba has called for a national renewal of leadership.
Mushimba has urged Zambians to begin preparing for the 2031 elections by serving their communities now.
In a statement issued yesterday, Mushimba said the country needed citizens of integrity, competence, courage and patriotism to step forward and take responsibility for shaping Zambia’s future.
He said his party was calling on willing and capable Zambians across all 226 constituencies to become Shadow Members of Parliament (SMPs) who would begin working in their communities long before taking up seats in Parliament.
“We said the works towards 2031 starts now,” Mushimba said.
He said the initiative was aimed at developing a new generation of leaders who would understand the challenges facing their constituencies and be prepared to provide responsible representation.
“We are calling upon able and willing Zambians in all 226 constituencies to step forward and become Shadow Members of Parliament (SMPs) – people who will begin serving their communities today, long before they ever take a seat in Parliament in 2031,” Mushimba said.
He said a Shadow MP should have a thorough understanding of the constituency they seek to represent, including its schools, health facilities, roads, farms, businesses, markets and communities.
Mushimba said the initiative was not simply about preparing candidates for elections but about renewing leadership across the country.
“This is about renewing leadership across the country,” he said.
Mushimba said Zambia needed leaders from diverse backgrounds, including farmers, entrepreneurs, professionals, teachers, nurses, engineers, lawyers, doctors, church leaders, academics, community organisers and young people.
He also encouraged women and experienced citizens, including retirees with the character and competence to serve, to participate.
Mushimba challenged young people to reject the notion that politics was reserved for other people.
“Do not tell yourself that politics is for someone else. If you have ideas, integrity and the willingness to work, your country needs you. Step forward,” he said.
Mushimba also encouraged women who had already demonstrated leadership in their communities to consider taking their service to a broader level.
“Your leadership matters. Step forward,” he said.
Mushimba urged professionals who had remained on the sidelines of politics to use their knowledge and expertise to contribute to national development.
“Knowledge without service cannot transform a nation,” Mushimba said.
He said entrepreneurs, farmers, teachers, nurses, workers, community leaders and church leaders were particularly well placed to understand the realities faced by ordinary Zambians.
Mushimba said the proposed network of Shadow MPs would provide an avenue for citizens to listen to communities, conduct research, organise around local concerns, propose solutions and hold elected leaders accountable.
“Let us build a national network of citizens who are already doing the work of responsible representation, listening, researching, organising, proposing solutions and holding leaders to account,” he said.
Mushimba said Zambia’s future should not be left in the hands of a small group of political leaders, arguing that national renewal required ordinary citizens to accept greater responsibility.
“The renewal of our nation begins when ordinary citizens like you decide that they are willing to accept extraordinary responsibility and step forward,” Mushimba said.
He described the proposed initiative as a national mission aimed at producing a new generation of servant leaders.
Mushimba urged Zambians who believed the country could do better to respond to the call and begin serving their communities.
“Zambia needs you. Step forward. Offer yourself. Serve your constituency. Help renew our nation,” he said.
