Maravi

D/Speaker curtails debate on Levy's illness

D/Speaker curtails debate on Levy's illness
By Mwala Kalaluka
Thursday August 07, 2008 [04:00]

Deputy Speaker of the National Assembly Mutale Nalumango on Tuesday stopped Patriotic Front (PF) Luapula member of parliament Peter Mach-ungwa from debating President Levy Mwanawasa’s illness. And health minister Dr Brian Chituwo said the test for HIV/AIDS will remain voluntary rather than mandatory until Parliament changes the current law.

During the question for oral answer session of the second session of the tenth National Assembly, Machungwa asked the government to disclose when it would issue a statement on President Mwanawasa’s illness to the House.

Dr Chituwo was by this time responding to a barrage of questions triggered by Mandevu PF member of parliament Jean Kapata, who wanted to know if HIV/AIDS screening in high schools was done on compulsory or mandatory basis.

But when he was given an opportunity to ask a supplementary question on the issue, Machungwa brought into discussion President Mwanawasa’s illness.

“Considering the concerns of the House and the nation, when will the government through the Minister of Health come to this House and bring a statement on the health of the President?” Machungwa asked.

Machungwa explained that his question was meant to put to rest the rumour-mongering and public concerns over President Mwanawasa’s over-a-month admission to Percy Military Hospital in Paris, France.

However, Nalumango interjected and ruled that Dr Machungwa had gone totally away from the question under discussion.

“It is not an issue you should bring in this manner,” Nalumango told Machungwa.

Nalumango pointed out that though the matter was an important one and that the House just like any other citizen was concerned about President Mwanawasa’s ailment, the manner in which the questioned was asked was wrong.

“As for members of this House, who are law makers, you should know the procedure,” advised Nalumango.

President Mwanawasa suffered a stroke on June 29 in Sharm-el-Sheik, Egypt where he went to attend the African Union (AU) heads of state summit and he was admitted at Sharm-el-Sheik International Hospital before being evacuated to Percy Military Hospital on July 1.

And responding to a question from Kabwata PF member of parliament Given Lubinda on why HIV/AIDS testing was still voluntary when it had become a chronic disease as any other, Dr Chituwo said the government was in respect of the law on human rights.

“In respect to this law it would be wrong for any health worker to indiscriminately draw blood from a patient,” said Dr Chituwo.

Meanwhile, Monze UPND member of parliament Jack Mwiimbu accused the government of lacking vigour in its implementation of the rural electrification programme countrywide.

Mwiimbu said the government had not walked its talk in the rural electrification programme.

But energy minister Kenneth Konga said the government was vigorously pursuing the undertaking in packages.

Labels: MUTALE NALUMANGO, PARLIAMENT

posted by MrK @ 4:14 PM