Rt. Hon. Nelly is a distinguished Zambian lawyer and the first woman to serve as the Speaker of the National Assembly, having been elected unopposed. She has built an impressive career as a human rights lawyer and is recognized as a civil rights activist. Nelly holds a Bachelor of Laws degree from the University of Zambia and is a certified arbitrator and mediator.

From 2002 to 2006, she served as the Chairperson of the Anti-Corruption Commission and was a Commissioner on the Constitution Review Commission of Zambia from 2003 to 2005. In 2005, she was also a commissioner on the Mung’omba Constitution Review Commission. Additionally, she served as the Vice President of the Law Association of Zambia.

In recognition of her contributions, Rt. Hon. Nelly received the 2022 Prestige King Lewanika Royal Meritocracy Award during the Kuomboka Ceremony. She is a passionate advocate for sustainable development and addresses issues related to climate change.