Zambian official passes away during IPU Assembly in Tashkent

Roy Ngulube, Secretary of Zambia’s National Assembly, passed away in Tashkent during an official working visit. Ngulube was part of a delegation led by National Assembly Speaker Nelly Mutti, attending the 150th Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU) Assembly and related meetings. This was reported by the Lusaka Times, and the Inter-Parliamentary Union confirmed the news.

“Tulia Ackson (IPU President) and IPU Secretary-General Martin Chungong have expressed deep sadness over the passing of Roy Ngulube, Secretary of the Zambian National Assembly, during his official visit to the 150th IPU Assembly. They extended heartfelt condolences to the people of Zambia,” read the statement by the IPU.

Speaker Mutti, in a statement to local media, expressed her profound grief over the loss of her close colleague, describing it as "a great loss for the institution and the entire nation."

"The National Assembly is deeply saddened by the passing of Mr. Ngulube. We greatly value his dedicated service to the country," she stated.

According to a separate announcement issued in Lusaka, Zambia’s capital, Ngulube had over 20 years of parliamentary experience. He began working at the National Assembly on April 15, 2002, and steadily advanced to higher positions. His early roles included serving as Assistant and Executive Assistant to the Secretary-General of the Southern African Development Community (SADC) Parliamentary Forum from 2006 to 2008.

From 2009 to 2015, he was the Executive Assistant to the Speaker, and he later held positions such as Deputy Clerk for Procedures (2016-2017) and Deputy Clerk for Administration (2017-2022). In September 2023, he was appointed as the Secretary of the National Assembly and served in this capacity until his passing.

“Numerous condolence messages have been received from parliament members, staff, and the wider public, highlighting his professionalism, dedication, and extensive experience within the institution. Further details regarding the repatriation of the body and funeral arrangements will be announced later,” the statement added.

It is worth recalling that Tashkent recently hosted the Inter-Parliamentary Union’s 150th Jubilee Assembly for the first time in Central Asian history. The event, held from April 5-9 at the Congress Hall complex in the “Tashkent City” area, saw the participation of nearly 2,000 delegates from 180 countries, 15 observer states, and over 25 international and inter-parliamentary organizations. The primary theme of the meeting was "Parliamentary Action for Social Development and Justice," addressing issues such as poverty reduction, creating decent working conditions, promoting social inclusion, and increasing the participation of marginalized groups in decision-making processes.