From student politics to Parliament: Former university leaders emerge on UPND youth list A new generation of political figures who first built their profiles in university student politics could soon find themselves in Zambia’s National Assembly, following the submission of proportional representation lists by political parties after the 2026 general election.
Zambian Eye examines how the country’s new proportional representation system is opening a route from student leadership into national politics, with several former university student union leaders appearing on the UPND list for youth representation.
Among those named are former University of Zambia Students’ Union (UNZASU) Vice-President Jemimah Mwaba, popularly known as “Commander Kwishiba”; former Copperbelt Students’ Union President Lloyd Nsonga; former Chalimbana University Students’ Union President Gabriel Simutowe; and former UNZASU President Vincent Musilikani.
Also on the list is former UNZASU President Kabaso Mwanto, popularly known as “Shuwa Shuwa.” If their nominations are confirmed by the Electoral Commission of Zambia, the former student leaders would make a significant transition from representing university communities to potentially representing young people in the National Assembly.
The development also provides an early glimpse of how Zambia’s new mixed-member proportional representation system could change the profile of Parliament.
A new route into the National Assembly The proportional representation system was introduced through the Constitution of Zambia (Amendment) Act No.
Under the amended Constitution, elections to the National Assembly combine the traditional first-past-the-post system for constituency seats with proportional representation for specified seats reserved for women, youths and persons with disabilities.
The National Assembly now has 40 seats under the proportional representation system: 20 for women15 for youthsfive for persons with disabilities.
The seats are allocated to qualifying political parties in proportion to the valid votes obtained by their presidential candidates at national level.
This means that voters do not directly elect an individual PR candidate in a constituency.
Instead, political parties submit lists of candidates, and the allocation of seats follows the prescribed formula.
The system is therefore different from the constituency elections in which voters select a particular parliamentary candidate.
Why the student leaders are attracting attention The names on the UPND youth list are notable because of their backgrounds.
University student unions have historically been an important training ground for political activism and leadership in Zambia.
Student leaders routinely engage university management, Government ministries, political parties and other institutions on issues affecting students and young people.
Some have also become prominent voices on national political questions while still at university.
The emergence of former student union leaders on a parliamentary list therefore raises an interesting question about whether Zambia’s new youth representation mechanism could become a pathway through which political experience gained on university campuses translates into national public office.
For the individuals involved, the transition would be substantial.
A student union president or vice-president represents a defined university constituency.
A Member of Parliament, by contrast, participates in national law-making, parliamentary oversight and representation of citizens at the national level.
Who are the former student leaders? Jemimah Mwaba, known as “Commander Kwishiba”, previously served as Vice-President of UNZASU.
Lloyd Nsonga served....
