National Assembly Speaker Moses Wetang’ula has accused sections of the media of misrepresenting his recent remarks on parliamentary attrition, clarifying that he never told Members of Parliament that half of them would fail to return to the House after the next General Election.
Speaking in response to widespread media reports, the Speaker said his comments were taken out of context and inaccurately framed as a personal prediction, yet he was merely relaying findings from an independent, scientific assessment on historical trends in parliamentary turnover.
“The media picked the information and twisted it wrongly. I did not tell members that half will not come back,” Wetang’ula said, explaining that he was referencing a research-based report that analysed attrition patterns across successive parliaments.
According to the Speaker, the assessment conducted by professional actuaries indicates that historically, about half of Members of Parliament fail to retain their seats from one election to the next.
Projections for the current 13th Parliament suggest that as many as 56 per cent of MPs may not return after the next polls, a figure Wetang’ula stressed was not his opinion but a statistical forecast.
He was speaking on Wednesday during an interview in a local TV station.
Addressing lawmakers during the 2026 National Assembly Legislative Retreat on Monday, Wetang’ula urged legislators to give priority to pension funding, warning that a majority of current MPs may not return to Parliament after the 2027 General Election.
He cited findings from a pensions and actuarial report indicating that about 56 per cent of Members of Parliament are unlikely to be re-elected in 2027.
He cautioned that without proper financial planning, many MPs leave office to significantly reduced incomes, making post-Parliament life difficult.
Wetang’ula said all legislators are required to contribute to the parliamentary pension scheme to safeguard their financial stability after leaving public office.
He noted that such trends are not unprecedented, recalling past parliaments where electoral outcomes were even more unforgiving.
“I’ve been in Parliament for quite some time. There was a parliament where only 30 per cent came back; 70 per cent were voted out. That is the nature of electoral contests; you win, you lose,” he said.
Wetang’ula said his remarks were intended to motivate, not discourage, Members, particularly first-time and younger legislators, to intensify their engagement with constituents and prepare early for re-election battles.
“I was actually energising my members by telling them: they are saying 56 per cent may not come back. Let it not be you,” he explained, adding that he urged MPs to “up your game, pull up your socks, run like never before and get ready to come back.”
The Speaker expressed particular concern for first-term MPs, warning that an early exit from Parliament could carry serious social and economic consequences.
He cautioned that lawmakers who serve only one term are not eligible for parliamentary pensions, as pension rules require at least two terms of service and attainment of the age of 45 before benefits can be accessed .
“If you leave Parliament after one term, Parliament will tell you it was a pleasure meeting you, here is your contribution to the pension which does not amount to a pension and off you go,” he said.
Beyond pension considerations, Wetang’ula warned that young former MPs often struggle to reintegrate into the job market, noting that voters and employers alike may be hesitant to absorb politicians who exit public office prematurely.
“For young MPs, those are five years thrown away if you are not properly planned,” he said, underscoring the importance of long-term career and financial planning.
The Speaker reiterated that his message was advisory and protective in nature, aimed at helping Members safeguard their political futures and personal welfare, rather than predicting electoral outcomes.
“I was counselling my members, especially the young ones,” Wetang’ula said, maintaining that his remarks were grossly misunderstood when reported as a definitive statement on who would lose their seats.
