”A woman’s place is wherever she chooses”- Malambo East MP

A newly elected Member of Parliament for Malambo East Faith Lungu has declared that women belong wherever they choose to lead, using her maiden speech in the National Assembly to challenge traditional expectations and call for greater opportunities for girls and women.

The independent MP, who becomes the first woman elected to represent the constituency, said her election was about more than personal achievement, describing it as a breakthrough for young girls, mothers and women who have been made to believe that leadership belongs to men.

“This is not merely my victory; it is a victory for every young girl in Malambo East who has been told that her dreams are too big,” she told the House.

Addressing girls watching from her constituency, she encouraged them to see her presence in Parliament as proof that they, too, could aspire to leadership.

“They used to say a woman’s place is in the house, specifically the kitchen. I say a woman’s place is wherever she chooses to stand, including the floor of this August House,” said Lungu.

Her speech combined a message of gender equality with a pledge to turn her electoral mandate into tangible improvements for the people of Malambo East.

Lungu thanked the voters who entrusted her with the responsibility of representing their interests, including farmers, traders, teachers, miners, fishermen, young people and mothers. She pledged to serve with integrity and dedication, saying her priority was to improve the lives of ordinary people in the constituency.

She also acknowledged the support of her family, particularly her husband, whom she praised for standing behind her decision to pursue political leadership.

The lawmaker said her commitment to community service predated her election to Parliament, pointing to several contributions she had made to local schools and families affected by hardship.

Lungu said she had provided 75 bags of cement to Kasimbo School, donated and installed a solar-powered submersible water pump at Kabila School, and supplied 70 iron sheets and 40 bags of cement to Nyawa School.

She also recounted providing 400 bags of mealie meal, 300 blankets and other food supplies to Chikwa Village following floods.

“I never waited for a title to do what I could to be of assistance to the people of Malambo East,” she said, explaining that her decision to stand as an independent MP reflected her commitment to representing the constituency.

“My loyalty is to the people of Malambo East and to the Republic of Zambia,” she told Parliament.

Despite the constituency’s natural resources and strong community spirit, the MP said many residents continued to face challenges that required urgent attention.

She highlighted the difficulties some families experience in accessing water, children walking long distances to overcrowded classrooms, and farmers struggling to obtain agricultural inputs and reliable markets for their produce.

These, Lungu said, were among the concerns she was bringing to Parliament in the hope that they would be addressed.

Her maiden speech concluded with a message to women and girls who aspire to positions of leadership, acknowledging that barriers remain but expressing hope that her election would make the path easier for those who follow.

“I am not the first woman to break a barrier in this country, and I will not be the last, but I hope to be the one who made it easier for the next woman to break another barrier,” she said.

Her address placed the historic significance of her election alongside the practical expectations of the people she represents: that their concerns over essential services, education and agriculture receive attention beyond the parliamentary chamber.