New CPA Chairperson from Zambia elected at 67th Commonwealth Parliamentary Conference in New South Wales
During the 2024 CPA General Assembly at the 67th Commonwealth Parliamentary Conference in New South Wales, Members of the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association (CPA) elected Hon. Dr Christopher Kalila, MP (Zambia) as the new Chairperson of the CPA Executive Committee for a new three-year term.
Above: The newly elected CPA Chairperson, Hon. Dr Christopher Kalila, MP from Zambia addresses the CPA General Assembly following his election. Click here for more images from 67th CPC.
The newly elected CPA Chairperson, Hon. Dr Christopher Kalila, pledged that the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association (CPA) would have a strengthened and renewed focus to promote Parliaments and Legislatures.
In his acceptance remarks, the newly elected CPA Chairperson said that his election marked a time to move forward with the Association and that he wanted all CPA Branches - large and small - across the nine CPA Regions to work together. He thanked the Speaker of the Zambia National Assembly, Rt Hon. Nelly Mutti, and the CPA Zambia Branch for their support in his candidacy. He also expressed his gratitude to the Members of the CPA, who have shown great trust in electing him as their Chairperson.
The CPA Chairperson is elected for three years by the CPA General Assembly and works with the CPA Secretary-General and the CPA Headquarters Secretariat to lead the Association and to chair the CPA Executive Committee.
Under CPA election rules only delegates attending the 67th Commonwealth Parliamentary Conference could take part in the vote to elect a new CPA Chairperson.
Hon. Dr Christopher Kalila is the fifth CPA Chairperson from the CPA Africa Region and the second from Zambia (following Hon. Lavu Mulimba, MCC, MP from 1987 to 90) since the role of CPA Chairperson was created in 1967.
The previous CPA Chairperson was Hon. Ian Liddell-Grainger, MP (United Kingdom) who held the position from 2022 to 2024 (Acting Chairperson from 2021-2022).
There were three candidates for the position of Chairperson of the CPA Executive Committee in this election - Hon. Dr Zainab Gimba, MP (Nigeria), Hon. Arthur E. Holder, MP, SC, Speaker of the House of Assembly of Barbados and Hon. Dr Christopher Kalila, MP (Zambia).
The Secretary-General of the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association, Stephen Twigg said:
“I congratulate Hon. Dr Christopher Kalila, MP from Zambia on his election as the CPA Chairperson for a new three-year term. I look forward to working with the new CPA Chairperson to draft and achieve the CPA’s next Strategic Plan and wish him all the very best in this important role.”
Hon. Dr Christopher Kalila, MP is a Member of the National Assembly of Zambia. A Zambian Parliamentarian with a parliamentary career spanning sixteen years, he currently represents Lukulu Constituency, chairs the Parliamentary Committee on Health, Community Development and Social Services and serves on the Committee on Cabinet Affairs. He has served in a number of CPA roles at a Branch and Regional level and champions the Commonwealth values of respect for the rule of law; individual rights and freedoms; and the positive ideals of parliamentary democracy. Prior to his political career, Hon. Dr Christopher Kalila served as a medical doctor and administrator in Zambia’s public and private sectors for over a decade.
One of the largest gatherings of Commonwealth Parliamentarians, the 67th Commonwealth Parliamentary Conference brought together over 700 Parliamentarians, parliamentary staff and decision makers from across the Commonwealth for this unique conference and networking opportunity.
The 67th CPC was the first time that the CPA New South Wales Branch hosted the event and the first time that an Australian State or Territory hosted the CPA annual conference.
During the 67th Commonwealth Parliamentary Conference, there were also a number of additional conferences and meetings including: 40th CPA Small Branches Conference; 8th Commonwealth Women Parliamentarians (CWP) Conference; meetings of the Commonwealth Parliamentarians with Disabilities (CPwD) network; the CPA General Assembly and meetings of the CPA Executive Committee; and the 58th Society of Clerks at the Table (SOCATT) meetings.
During the conference, a number of elections also took place for the Chairperson of the CPA Executive Committee, the CPA Small Branches Chairperson and the CPA Vice-Chairperson.
-ENDS-
Further information about the 67th Commonwealth Parliamentary Conference (CPC) can be found at the official conference website and also at the 67th CPC Hub.
On social media follow the hashtag #67CPC
Images of the 67th CPC are also available at the CPA's Flickr page.
The Commonwealth Parliamentary Association (CPA) organises its annual Commonwealth Parliamentary Conference (CPC) to address global political issues and developments in the parliamentary system through conference workshops and sessions for leading Parliamentarians representing Parliaments and Legislatures throughout the Commonwealth.
The CPA is an international community of almost 180 Commonwealth Parliaments and Legislatures working together to deepen the Commonwealth’s commitment to the highest standards of democratic governance.
For media enquiries, please contact communications@cpahq.org.
