FORMER Information Minister Dora Siliya, has called for the upgrading of the minimum qualification for Members of Parliament (MPs) and councillors from just a mere Grade 12 certificate to a university degree.
Speaking during an interview on Diamond TV, Siliya said the current education requirement for lawmakers and local government leaders is too low and does not match the level of responsibility that comes with public office.
“The minimum qualification for Members of Parliament and councillors should be raised from Grade 12 to a university degree,” Siliya said.
The former Petauke lawmaker explained that Zambia needs well-prepared parliamenterians with vast knowledge to make informed decisions especially in this ever evolving world.
She said the country cannot afford to keep electing leaders who are not ready for the demands of governance.
“Chance only favours the prepared,” she said.
“Leadership today must be about people who can do the best. We can’t keep experimenting, we must send the best forward.”
Siliya lamented that leadership is no longer just about having numbers or being outspoken, but about having the right qualifications and much exposure to understand national and global issues.
“Politics builds roads. Politics decides the future of your children. Politics decides if banks will survive and if industries will create jobs. So if the wrong people are making those decisions, the whole country suffers,” she said.
The former cabinet Minister explained that while youths are the future of the country, their age should not make them feel entitled to leadership positions.
Instead, she said, they should focus on preparing themselves academically and professionally to be ready for opportunities when they come.
By George Musonda
Kalemba November 1, 2025
