Speaker Nelly Mutti moved to end a weeks-long political rebellion within Zambia's National Assembly. She recognized Ezra Tembo as the genuine leader of the opposition in parliament. Stephen Kampyongo was left outside the opposition faction that Mutti was prepared to recognize. The chamber had been waiting for the decision on Tuesday, October 20, 2026, as Mutti adjusted her robes and raised her gavel. Her intervention settled the immediate question of who represented the opposition, at least within the assembly. Details of how the split began and what consequences followed were not provided. Kampyongo's supporters were left out in the cold, while Tembo gained the speaker's public backing.