THE swearing-in of 224 constituency-based members of parliament marks the formal beginning of a very different National Assembly, one that will eventually become even significantly larger once proportional representation members and presidential nominees are added. The expansion is meant to widen representation, but Zambians must also consider its consequences. A Parliament that grows by well over 100 members will inevitably face new pressures, and one of the most obvious risks will be a decline in the quality of debate. Without deliberate reforms in procedure, discipline and preparation, the enlarged House could easily become noisier and less efficient. Whether we like it or not, an increase of this magnitude cannot come without consequences. More MPs will mean more interventions, more...