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Clerk of the National Assembly, Roy Ngulube, has urged Civil Society Organizations (CSOs) and ordinary Zambians to actively engage in the ongoing Parliamentary reforms aimed at reducing long-standing operational red tape.
Ngulube made the call during the 1st Utafiti Sera Universal Health Coverage (UHC) Convening, organized by the Centre for Reproductive Health and Education (CRHE) in Lusaka on Thursday.
He emphasized the importance of familiarizing CSOs and citizens with the functions of the National Assembly.
The reforms are intended to enhance public understanding of the roles of Members of Parliament, who often face demands for duties outside their official responsibilities.
“I want to be at the forefront of these reforms and reduce the red tape which has hindered the interaction between Parliamentary staff and CSOs and ordinary citizens, ensuring that all are engaged equally,” Ngulube stated.
He noted that the reforms would also address the practice of engaging only well-known organizations, such as the Non-Governmental Gender Organizations Coordinating Council (NGOCC) and the Law Association of Zambia (LAZ).
He admitted that bureaucratic processes had previously led to the shelving of numerous requests for National Assembly staff presence.
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“We want to open Parliament to everyone. We do not want to just have people attend Parliamentary proceedings during official openings but even on ordinary days and sit in the gallery to listen to debates on various issues,” he said.
In his vote of thanks, UNESCO Programme Officer for Education for Health and Well-being Zambia, Mwilu Mumbi, praised the open-door policy as a significant step towards increased engagement between the National Assembly, CSOs and the public.
Mumbi highlighted that previous bureaucratic barriers had limited opportunities for meaningful interaction between citizens, CSOs, and the National Assembly.
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