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Speaker scolds MPs for failing to debate President’s speech

Speaker scolds MPs for failing to debate President’s speech
By Ernest Chanda
Thu 23 Sep. 2010, 08:00 CAT

NATIONAL Assembly Speaker Amuusa Mwanamwambwa on Tuesday scolded members of parliament for failing to debate the President’s speech delivered last week at the official opening of Parliament.

During the session, Patriotic Front (PF) 'rebel' parliamentarians Jacob Chongo and Besa Chimbaka for Mwense and Bahati respectively debated the motion and no one else indicated to debate thereafter. This prompted Speaker Mwanamwambwa to caution the lawmakers that they should have taken time to analyse the President’s speech and debate it ferociously.

"On Friday, the reason for adjourning was to give Honourable members time to study the Presidential speech so that thereafter they could debate it ferociously. But what I have seen here are expectations. I have seen a common phenomenon among Honourable members that after which has occurred often times after the Presidential speech is delivered, and it happened this time around," said Speaker Mwanamwambwa.

"After adjourning last Friday, a lot of you Honourable members made a rush to radio stations and spoke about the speech. Some rushed to nearest or furthest television stations and said things. Look at the daily papers of Saturday and see what they contained. I thought it was a sign that you were geared to debate. Alas, only two Honourable members have debated. I expect all of you to be ready tomorrow and indicate that you are ready to debate and debate seriously. Under the circumstances I shall ask his honour the Vice-President to adjourn the House."

The House then adjourned at 17:13.



http://www.postzambia.com/post-read_article.php?articleId=30

RB has reduced MMD to a political shell
By George Chellah
Thu 23 Sep. 2010, 04:00 CAT

GEORGE Mpombo yesterday said President Rupiah Banda has injected a culture of cheap cronyism and patronage in the MMD.

Commenting on MMD acting national secretary Chembe Nyangu’s statement to party members to adhere to the party constitution, which stipulates that individuals are only allowed to declare interest and start campaigning for positions three months before the convention, Mpombo urged Nyangu and MMD spokesperson Dora Siliya to be sincere when guiding party members. “It’s clear that these two people came in the party to do Rupiah Banda’s bidding.

Rupiah has reduced MMD to just a political shell,” Mpombo said. “He has injected a culture of cheap cronyism and patronage in the party. No wonder nothing they do makes sense anymore and this is destroying our chances of winning next year’s elections.”

He said President Banda had destroyed the democratic values of the party. “The party now is being reduced to a platform where President Banda’s personal ego is advanced vigorously and to achieve this, that’s why he brought Dora,” Mpombo said.

“The party is applying double standards when they begin requesting other prospective candidates not to announce their intentions to contest until the MMD national executive committee (NEC) meets and announces the dates for the convention. “But at the same time, the same party has allowed Rupiah to go on a vigorous campaign offensive to advance his aspirations as MMD presidential candidate.” He stressed the need for fairness in administering party matters.

“When Rupiah Banda was opening Parliament, he said he was ready for re-election and has even hired a physical trainer. The question is, who elected Rupiah as MMD presidential candidate because the convention has not been held yet?” Mpombo asked.

“Rupiah has even put up those substandard and excessively poor television adverts on ZNBC, which are actually detrimental to the party purely on account of their poor content and quality. So why is Nyangu and Siliya not stopping Rupiah from doing that? Why are they not stopping Rupiah from open campaigns when the NEC has not sanctioned the campaigns?” He said presently the MMD has no direction.

“Why are they saying Kavindele shouldn’t campaign when Rupiah is busy campaigning? Let them cancel those poor campaign adverts they are running for Rupiah as well. The MMD should not be allowed to be hijacked by strangers like Dora Siliya,” Mpombo said.

“Rupiah is encouraging and promoting double standards in the party. There should be no sacred cows in the party. All rules should apply evenly. Everybody, including Rupiah, should wait for the convention dates to be set if that’s what they want to be done.” Mpombo said President Banda was usurping the powers of the national convention by declaring himself MMD presidential candidate for the 2011 general elections even before the first vote is cast.

On Tuesday, the MMD warned Kavindele and other members against declaring interest in contesting national executive committee positions before the date for the national convention was announced. This was after Kavindele on Sunday announced his candidature for the MMD vice-presidency at the forthcoming convention.

Nyangu was quoted in the Zambia Daily Mail as having said that it was too early for Kavindele to declare interest to contest the party vice presidency given his membership status. Nyangu said Kavindele became a member of the opposition when he decided to contest the Kabompo West parliamentary seat as an independent.

He said the ruling party only recently readmitted Kavindele through an amnesty given to those that had left the party. Nyangu is reported to have guided party members to adhere to the party constitution, which stipulates that individuals are only allowed to declare interest and start campaigning for positions three months before the convention.

Nyangu said the portfolio of MMD vice-president was still frozen and advised Kavindele to stop campaigning for the position. But Kavindele on Tuesday reiterated that he would contest the party vice-presidency at the convention. Kavindele said the MMD NEC was detached from the people, adding that many members – including President Banda – were already campaigning for various positions.

Labels: AMUSA MWANAMWAMBA, MPs, PARLIAMENT

posted by MrK @ 5:55 PM