Tembo urges MPs to change attitude

Tembo urges MPs to change attitude
By Patson Chilemba
Monday April 09, 2007 [04:00]

FORMER Republican vice-president Lieutenant-General Christon Tembo has urged members of parliament (MPs) to change their attitude towards debates in the future sittings of parliament. And Lt Gen Tembo has urged politicians that are quarreling over the statement by information minister Vernon Mwaanga, that it was in fact Zambia which owes DRC Katanga Province governor Moses Katumbi US$7 million, to examine themselves before they could comment on the matter.

In an interview, Lt Gen Tembo said the conduct of some members of parliament especially in the parliamentary sitting that just adjourned left much to be desired. Lt Gen Tembo said members of parliament should change their attitudes towards debate. "It is very important that when MPs are in the House, they must demonstrate maturity. Constituencies expect them to represent them in a mature manner...anything short of that is unacceptable to their constituencies," he said.

Lt Gen Tembo said it was up to the constituencies to monitor and sanction members of parliament that failed to represent them in a worthy manner. "They can do that whilst the life of Parliament is still on. They can, within the constituencies meet and pass a message and at the end of the term of Parliament, it's there duty to vote out those who are cantankerous," Lt Gen Tembo said.

"During this life of Parliament MPs should change their attitude."
During some debates in the House sittings that just adjourned, deputy speaker of the National Assembly Mutale Nalumango threatened to 'eject' parliamentarians that shouted and made commentaries while their colleagues were debating.

Roan Patriotic Front (PF) member of parliament Chishimba Kambwili was once 'ejected' by Parliamentary Committees Chairman Mkhondo Lungu for making running commentaries while his colleagues were debating. And Lt Gen Tembo said there was still a lot of political immaturity in most politicians that were 'quarrelling' over the issue of Katumbi. "Most people who are quarrelling are the key players. They want to wash away their hands when they were involved. It's not difficult to unearth these issues. I would advise people who are quarrelling to first examine themselves and say 'how clean am I to take on this matter?'" Lt Gen Tembo said.