Parliament adjourns sine die
By By Ernest Chanda and Bright Mukwasa
Sat 25 June 2011, 04:02 CAT
PARLIAMENT adjourned sine die yesterday after emotional speeches from various members to mark the end of the Tenth National Assembly’s five-year term. And Wynter Kabimba says the PF will take President Rupiah Banda to court if he delays to dissolve Parliament.
After Vice-President George Kunda proposed a motion to suspend some Standing Orders to enable the House finish the day’s business and subsequently adjourn sine die, there was a sudden quietness while gloomy faces appeared among some members of parliament.
Prior to the adjournment, National Assembly Speaker Amusaa Mwanamwambwa invited all members of parliament to a farewell luncheon at the Parliament restaurant immediately after adjournment.
And all the members who debated gave eulogies to Speaker Mwanamwambwa who is scheduled to retire when a new Speaker is elected in the new sitting of the House, having served for two terms.
Lusaka Central Patriotic Front (PF) member of parliament Dr Guy Scott opened debate on the motion with an expression of disappointment that the government had messed up the constitution-making process.
He said the time had now come for the government leaders to face the same people they betrayed over the Constitution.
Mwense ‘rebel’ PF member of parliament Jacob Chongo who spoke highly of his perceived MMD government’s achievements also gave a hint of the meeting he and his other colleagues had with late former president Frederick Chiluba hours before he died.
Chongo emotionally recapped Chiluba’s achievements and how he asked all of them in the meeting to work hard and ensure that President Rupiah Banda won this year’s election.
And in what looked like his farewell speech, Mbabala UPND member of parliament Emmanuel Hachipuka advised his colleagues in the party to remove the tribal tag from the party.
Hachipuka who debated with passion and emotion started by announcing that he would not recontest the seat.
“I am closing debate for the Parliament chapter of my life. This is my 12th year in the House and I feel it’s enough for me to go and cherish my contribution to the people of Mbabala. To the UPND, I want to remind all of you what I did when the UPND was accused of being a tribal party.
I was the first to advise late Anderson Mazoka that let’s change the colour of the party by incorporating other people. That’s how I stepped down and I was replaced by Patrick Chisanga. We felt that the coming in of a Northerner would add value to the party,” said Hachipuka.
“It is not possible to get into government without the input of other people. And as we seat as UPND we must reflect. This country shall not be governed by only a few of the nine regions of this country. If we don’t open up as a party it will be very difficult to progress.”
After several other debates, the House adjourned sine die at 12:41 hours, amidst shouts of ‘goodbye’ from both the opposition and ruling party members.
President Banda is now expected to dissolve Parliament and Cabinet, and announce the election date.
And Kabimba, the Patriotic Front secretary general, has threatened that his party would not take lightly any manouvres by President Banda and his regime to play delaying political tactics in the dissolution of Parliament.
“What we hear is that he wants to do that because he wants his ministers to campaign for him using public resources,” Kabimba said during a media briefing yesterday.
“There can be no any other corruption; there can be no any other plunder than this. If this arrangement will continue we shall take them on. We shall go to court,” he said.
He said although the party had been disappointed before by the courts, it would not be discouraged it would still proceed.
Parliament rose sine die on Friday after sitting since May 31, 2011.
President Banda is expected to dissolve Cabinet and Parliament and subsequently announce the election date.
Meanwhile, Kabimba has said Sata is well and would contest this year’s election.
“Michael Sata is a political elephant who cannot be brought down by ‘small puppies’. I want to assure all our members that PF is intact.
We are going to our general conference on 2nd July 2011, to complete our party elections,” he said.
“Why should Sata prove to this world everyday that he’s alive? Rupiah Banda was not at the funeral (Chiluba's) but only after a few days. He was meeting his Malawian counterpart. Did we say he is dead? And when he came he cried so hard because his consultant was dead.”
Kabimba said insinuations that Sata was sick were fabricated by desperate individuals who were bitter.
Recently they have been reports circulating on blogs suggesting that PF president Sata’s health was failing him.
Labels: 2011 ELECTIONS, AMUSA MWANAMWAMBA, GEORGE KUNDA, PARLIAMENT
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Be factual in PVT arguments — Speaker
Friday, March 11, 2011, 8:48]
In Parliament yesterday Monze Central Member of Parliament (MP) Jack Mwiimbu (UPND) asked whether Justice Minister George Kunda was in order to keep quiet when ministers of Information and Foreign Affairs, Ronnie Shikapwasha and Kabinga Pande, respectively, had allegedly misinformed the nation over the raging parallel vote tabulation (PVT) debate.
Speaker of the National Assembly Amusaa Mwanamwambwa,who pointed out that he did not wish to usurp the powers of the Executive said: “This debate or debates on PVT is raging outside the House and indeed this House can claim a certain amount of interest in the matter in the sense that this House enacted the Constitution of Zambia and, among the creatures of the Constitution, is an authority known as ECZ.
“The Constitution assigned to ECZ powers and functions to carry out presidential, parliamentary and local government elections and once Parliament, through the Constitution, has assigned ECZ such powers,the House expects ECZ to discharge its functions and powers.”
Mr Mwanamwambwa said the matter at hand was of great magnitude but it would not help the House if he ruled definitely on it because there was no motion for the House to debate and vote.
The Speaker, however, advised MPs who wished to enter the fray of the public to do so freely, advising that they should be factual in their arguments.
“I will not muzzle anyone of you from expressing your opinions outside, join. There are lawyers here and I expect you to assist over this matter.
“I don’t want to enter into functions of the Government but those of you who have been members of the foreign service know the dos and don’ts in that diplomats in countries which they are accredited to are supposed to observe the laws,” Mr Mwanamwambwa said.
He said the protocols and etiquette befitting foreign envoys started as way back as 1848.
{Source -times of Zambia}
Labels: AMUSA MWANAMWAMBA, GEORGE KUNDA, VOTERIGGING
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Kunda says no regrets taking Chiluba’s cases to London
By Florence Bupe
Sat 13 Nov. 2010, 04:02 CAT
VICE-President George Kunda yesterday said he does not regret taking former president Frederick Chiluba’s corruption cases to the London High Court because he was acting on instruction from the Levy Mwanawasa government.
And Speaker of the National Assembly Amusaa Mwanamwambwa has cautioned The Post, former Kitwe mayor Luxon Kazabu, Southern African Centre for Constructive Resolution of Disputes (SACCORD) information officer Obby Chibuluma and South Africa-based Professor Michelo Hansungule for what he termed disregard for parliamentary privileges.
Responding to Siavonga UPND member of parliament Douglas Syakalima’s question on whether he regrets having taken Chiluba’s corruption cases to the London High Court, Vice-President Kunda said he had no regrets.
During the Vice-President’s question and answer session in Parliament, Syakalima demanded to know whether Vice-President Kunda had regretted having taken Chiluba’s corruption cases to the London High Court when he was Attorney General and acting justice minister in the Mwanawasa led government.
“When I was Attorney General, I was working on instruction from my client, the government. I had no personal interest in the matter and so there is no need for me to regret,” he said.
Vice-President Kunda said he was acting for the government and took the cases to the London High Court on behalf of the Zambian public.
“I was acting for the government of Zambia, on instruction from the government and on behalf of the people of Zambia,” said Vice-President Kunda.
And Speaker of the National Assembly Amusaa Mwanamwambwa has cautioned The Post, Kazabu, Chibuluma and Professor Hansungule for what her termed disregard for parliamentary privileges.
This was in ruling on a point of order raised by Daniel Munkombwe, the deputy minister in the Office of the Vice-President, regarding a statement attributed to Kazabu in The Post edition of September 24, 2010 under the headline ‘The Speaker is being partisan - Kazabu’.
Mwanamwambwa explained that following Kazabu’s allegations that the Speaker was acting on partisan lines when he suspended Kafulafuta member of parliament George Mpombo from the House and later asked him to apologise for referring to Vice-President Kunda as stupid, subsequent articles were published in The Post, thereby disparaging the integrity of Parliament.
Mwanamwambwa also questioned the knowledge of the authors and commentators regarding practices and rules of procedures of Parliament, and in particular, the Speaker.
“Parliamentary privileges are to be respected not only by members, but also by the public. When any individual or authority disregards or attacks the privileges of the House, it amounts to the offence termed as breach of privileges and is punishable by the House,” he said.
Mwanamwambwa warned that had Parliament wished, the ‘culprits’ would have appeared before the committee on privileges, absences and support services for determination of the matter and necessary sanctions would have been imposed on them.
“The core message of this ruling is that even those who are judgmental should make an effort to understand and respect what we do, how and why we do it. If they do, then we shall respect them,” said Mwanamwambwa.
Meanwhile, members of parliament yesterday opted to stay mute on the Anti Corruption Commission (ACC) policy debate.
When asked to debate the policy statement issued by Vice-President Kunda, members of parliament remained seated and the budget estimates for the commission were passed without any debate.
Labels: AMUSA MWANAMWAMBA, CORRUPTION, COURTS, FREDERICK CHILUBA, GEORGE KUNDA
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Speaker threatens to wind up debate on 2011 budget
By Ernest Chanda
Fri 15 Oct. 2010, 04:00 CAT
SPEAKER of the National Assembly Amusaa Mwanamwambwa has threatened to order finance minister Situmbeko Musokotwane to wind up the motion on the 2011 budget if more members of parliament do not debate.
Speaker Mwanamwambwa issued the warning on Tuesday upon noticing that no other parliamentarian was willing to debate after the only two debaters, Lombe Mulenga and Levy Ngoma for Kwacha and Sinda respectively, concluded their debates.
Upon noticing that no one indicated to debate, Speaker Mwanamwambwa told members of parliament that they had failed again, barely two weeks after issuing a similar warning.
“You are failing again, and yet again I watched some of you on television. I watched you on Friday, on Saturday, on Sunday and yesterday, Monday. I heard you on radio, I saw your interviews in the papers on the budget. What has happened to the data that you provided out there?” Speaker Mwanamwambwa asked.
“I'm asking the honourable minister of finance to wind up the motion tomorrow if what I have seen here will continue. We will find something else to do. So, minister be ready to wind up.”
Speaker Mwanamwambwa also asked the Executive to go out and correct what he called distortions from parliamentarians who commented on the 2011 budget through the media.
He wondered why parliamentarians feared to debate in the House and yet they found it safe to give their views outside.
“Do you fear that when you debate here your data will be diluted by the Executive? No you are not safe even there. In fact, Executive, go out there and collect the data. Some of the information they gave without research were distortions. So, I'm asking the Executive to go out there and correct the distortions,” said Speaker Mwanamwambwa.
Labels: 2011 BUDGET, AMUSA MWANAMWAMBA, SITUMBEKO MUSOKOTWANE
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Mpombo’s apology
By The Post
Wed 06 Oct. 2010, 04:00 CAT
It is said that “it is wrong for a judge to be prejudiced. If he pronounces a guilty person innocent, he will be cursed and hated by everyone. Judges who punish the guilty, however, will be prosperous and enjoy good reputation” (Proverbs 23:23-25).
What the Bible says in Proverbs 23 is something that all those who exercise any judicial authority should bear in mind when they exercise their powers. It is usually better for a judge to protect the simple and humble than to side with the powerful.
We say this because the powerful are able to defend themselves and do not need protection from others. It is the weak and lowly people, who are usually exploited by the powerful, that require protection.
Our democracy is also designed with that principle in mind. One of the principal functions of the courts is to check the powers of the powerful and ensure that justice is available to all. In this regard, the judiciary is meant to be independent of the executive, which in many instances finds itself tempted to trample upon the rights of our people.
An independent judiciary ensures that this is not the case. As powerful as the executive is likely to be, it can be controlled by a principled judiciary that exercises its power with integrity and determination to hold all our people, regardless of their station in life, equal before the law.
But there is something wrong with the way the organs that are supposed to defend our people and keep the executive in check are falling all over themselves to be in good books with the executive. We have seen our courts giving embarrassing decisions in circumstances that suggest that they wanted to ingratiate themselves to those in power.
We have seen the executive freely trampling upon the independence of the judiciary without seeming to have any fear that they will be called to account by anyone or that the courts themselves will call them to order. There is something wrong in the way that they are exercising democracy in our country.
If the executive, and particularly the presidency, is going to be all-powerful and all the organs of the state are inclined to dance to its tune, then we have disaster stalking us. Our democratic experiments cannot be sustained in circumstances where one of the organs of the state is overarchingly superior to the other organs that are meant to check its power.
What we have when this happens is an elected dictatorship that cannot be held to account by the electorate until there is an upheaval that results in a landslide defeat of such a regime. We say landslide because it seems that in our politics, as in the sport of boxing, the incumbent dictator cannot be defeated on a split-point decision; he has to be knocked out completely.
And to achieve this, there has to be a landslide decision by the electorate or else, the ballot remains subject to manipulation as we have come to learn from experience. It is unfortunate that we continue to witness the capitulation of important arms of the state to the hegemony of the executive.
What happened to Kafulafuta member of parliament George Mpombo in Parliament yesterday is nothing short of shameful. The conduct of Speaker Amusaa Mwanamwambwa is shocking and unfortunate. He is in that office to ensure that Parliament operates as an effective check on the excesses of the executive.
But of late, we are noticing a trend that suggests that he is nothing short of an extension of the executive. We say this because it does not make sense for the Speaker of the National Assembly to rise to the defence of the all-powerful executive. The executive has enough powers and resources at its disposal to defend itself. Why should the National Assembly be used as a vehicle to defend the executive?
In a period of about two weeks, the Speaker has made comments and decisions that have brought his ability to be an effective check on the excesses of the executive into question. It is unfortunate that both those issues have had to do with Mpombo. A few days ago, a rebel PF member stood on a point of order, questioning Mpombo’s comment on Rupiah’s speech to Parliament.
Mpombo had said that Rupiah was a liar for reasons that he elaborated. Speaker Mwanamwambwa found it proper to wonder why the law enforcement agencies were not acting against Mpombo because according to him, Mpombo had insulted the President. Again we ask, why should the Speaker consider it within his gift to defend the President? The President has more advisors and legal representatives than the Speaker can ever muster. It simply shows that Parliament has embraced a psychology of subservience to the executive.
Having taken this posture, it is impossible for this Parliament to be an effective check on the excesses of Rupiah Banda and his minions. Yesterday, we saw the Speaker trying to bully Mpombo into an apology to George Kunda. Again, the Speaker was acting as a defender of the executive, not the people that Parliament is meant to defend.
To understand what is going on, it is necessary to trace the background to the apology that Mpombo was forced to read in Parliament yesterday. Clearly, that apology was prepared by Parliament for Mpombo to read. Why should the Speaker and his officers prepare a text of apology for Mpombo? Again, it seems clear to us that this is in their continued posture of subservience to the executive.
It seems they want to please Rupiah and his minions at any cost. If Mpombo is going to apologise, do you have to write an apology for him? Surely such an apology is not an apology at all. They may have forced Mpombo to read that apology but even they know deep down their hearts that that apology was not an apology at all. If anything, it makes a mockery of the independence of the legislature.
The issue that has given rise to this contrived apology was Mpombo’s reaction to George’s threat against Katuba member of parliament Jonas Shakafuswa. Shakafuswa had asked George to confirm whether the state was planning to remove the offence of abuse of office from the Anti Corruption Commission Act.
George threatened Shakafuswa with arrest for raising a matter that was clearly in the public interest. Shakafuswa should enjoy the right to debate and raise on the floor of Parliament issues that concern the welfare of the state without being subjected to intimidation.
George resorted to intimidation on the floor of the House. The Speaker and Parliament in general did not protect Shakafuswa. Was it in order for the executive to threaten a member of parliament with arrest for asking a question?
In that context, Mpombo called George the most stupid Vice-President we’ve ever had. Mpombo’s comment was in the context that if George thought that the removal of the offence of abuse of office from the Anti Corruption Commission Act was going to protect him and his political masters, he was wrong.
And anyway, today Parliament is considering an amendment to the Anti Corruption Commission Act which does exactly what Shakafuswa was asking about and for which he was threatened by George.
George, acting as one of Rupiah’s chief minions, has pushed for the removal of the abuse of office offence from the Anti Corruption Commission Act. It is this that Mpombo thought to be stupid. We have discussed this before.
Stupidity is not an insult, it is a description of a kind of behaviour. A simple dictionary definition of stupidity will tell you that to be stupid is to show a lack of thought or good judgment. This is what Mpombo thought of George’s behaviour.
Mpombo thought that George had acted treacherously in relation to Levy Mwanawasa’s legacy on the fight against corruption. Put another way, it was Mpombo’s opinion that George was showing a lack of judgment in pushing for the removal of the offence of abuse of authority from the Anti Corruption Commission Act.
It should not surprise Speaker Mwanamwambwa that many of our people share Mpombo’s opinion on George’s stupidity. Forcing Mpombo to apologise does not change the reality of what our people and Mpombo himself believe.
It is a shame that Parliament that is supposed to guarantee the debating of matters that concern our people is now being used to intimidate and gag the people’s representatives from raising issues that are pertinent to the interests of our people.
Why shouldn’t a member of parliament express the strongest views that he can muster on the attempt to legalise public officers' corruption by removing the duty to account for their wealth? Well, what happened in Parliament yesterday tells us that our democracy is in critical ill-health.
The checks and balances that are supposed to exist have stopped functioning. It does not appear that Parliament, the judiciary and the executive are operating as counter-balancing forces designed to deliver the best possible services to our people.
It seems we now have a democracy that is of the executive, by the executive, for the executive. The other arms of the state could close down and the executive may not even notice. Forcing Mpombo to apologise in the manner that his issue was handled in Parliament is a disgrace to our democracy.
Labels: AMUSA MWANAMWAMBA, GEORGE MPOMBO, PARLIAMENT
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Speaker orders Mpombo to read prepared apology
By Mwala Kalaluka
Tue 05 Oct. 2010, 20:20 CAT
Speaker of the National Assembly Amusaa Mwanamwambwa yesterday ordered Kafulafuta MMD member of parliament George Mpombo to read an apology prepared for him for saying that George Kunda is the most stupid Vice-President Zambia has ever had.
Before business resumed in the House, Speaker Mwanamwambwa delivered an announcement on a point of order raised by Mwense PF ‘rebel’ member of parliament Jacob Chongo against Mpombo’s statement against Vice-President Kunda published in The Post of Monday July 5, 2010.
Speaker Mwanamwambwa said that on Friday, August 6, 2010 Deputy Speaker Mutale Nalumango made a ruling on Chongo’s point of order.
“The House will recall further that after studying the Point of Order, Madam Deputy Speaker had referred the Point of Order to the Committee on Privileges, Absences and Support Services for their consideration and recommendation to the House,” Speaker Mwanamwambwa said.
“After considering the matter, the Committee had established that Mr Mpombo’s conduct amounted to attacking His Honour the Vice-President’s debate outside the House. Accordingly, the Committee found Mr Mpombo guilty of breaching parliamentary privileges and etiquette and in contempt of the House, and accordingly recommended that the Hon member be suspended from the service of the House for a period of two (2) months.”
Speaker Mwanamwambwa said since Parliament was prorogued after adjourning sine die on the day the ruling was delivered, Mpombo could only be suspended for a period of one week.
“Mr Mpombo was also to give an apology in the House behind the Bar for his contempt of the House,” he said. “The House will recall that, at the time of the ruling, the Hon Madam Deputy Speaker had informed the House that the Hon Member for Kafulafuta was not in the House because he had been given permission to be absent from the House to enable him attend to a court case in the Ndola magistrate’s court. Accordingly, the Hon Madam Deputy Speaker had instructed that the Member should, at an appropriate time, make an apology at the Bar of the House for the disrespectful statements he had made. This is the appropriate time.”
Speaker Mwanamwambwa then ordered Mpombo to stand behind the Bar of the House and instructed the Sergeant-At-Arms to take the Speaker’s Mace and stand behind Mpombo.
“I now instruct you to make your apology before you resume your seat,” Speaker Mwanamwambwa ordered.
Mpombo moved to the ordered vantage but as soon as he started making a verbal apology, Speaker Mwanamwambwa ordered him to apologise to the House.
“I haven’t got a written speech,” Mpombo said.
But after a momentous silence, which was punctuated by laughter in the House, Mpombo said he would read the prepared apology given to him with a pinch of salt.
“A pinch of salt means you are not apologising, you shall withdraw that,” Speaker Mwanamwambwa ordered Mpombo who obliged and started reading the prepared speech amidst shouts of ‘umwaume’ (real man) from some opposition parliamentarians.
“In accordance with the decision of the House through the Committee on Privileges, Absences and Support Services, I George Mpombo, in my personal capacity as Member of Parliament for Kafulafuta Constituency, do unreservedly apologise to this August House for the derogatory remarks I made against His Honour the Vice-President in the Post newspaper of 5th July, 2010,” Mpombo said.
“I deeply regret that the remarks I made against His Honour the Vice-President and Leader of Government Business in the House amounted to breach of parliamentary privileges and etiquette and was in contempt of the House.”
Mpombo read that he had taken time to reflect on his utterances and he had found that his conduct was below the expected conduct of a parliamentarian.
“In this regard, Sir, I take this opportunity to apologise, most sincerely to His Honour the Vice-President for the unfortunate remarks I made against him in the press…the extremely disrespectful remarks are deeply regretted and I wish to assure this August House, through you, Sir, that I will do everything possible to refrain from such undesirable conduct in future. I shall endeavour henceforth to conduct myself in a manner expected of an Honourable member of parliament.”
After Mpombo finished reading the apology prepared for him, Speaker Mwanamwambwa told him to get back to his seat.
However, Speaker Mwanamwambwa cautioned the House over people that had been calling Mpombo as ‘umwaume’ during his apology to the House.
“Let me remind honourable members that you are all collectively responsible for the proper conduct and etiquette befitting each one of you in and outside the House,” Speaker Mwanamwambwa said.
He said those that were using the word ‘umwaume’ in respect of Mpombo were inciting him to run into trouble with the rules and even laws of the House.
On July 4, 2010 Mpombo said Vice-President George Kunda was a turncoat. He further warned that changing laws like removing the abuse of office offence from the Anti Corruption Commission (ACC) Act will not protect Vice-President Kunda and his colleagues from prosecution for their wrong deeds when they leave office.
Mpombo was commenting on Vice-President Kunda’s threats against Katuba MMD member of parliament Jonas Shakafuswa for imprisonment when Shakafuswa questioned the government’s motive for removing the offence of abuse of office from the revised Anti Corruption Commission (ACC) Act.
Mpombo said Vice-President Kunda must be told in no uncertain terms that he could not be allowed to threaten people with impunity.
“Since Zambia’s independence, George Kunda is the most stupid Vice-President the country has ever had. He is a danger to democracy and he is a danger even to his own integrity,” said Mpombo, a former defence minister. “This is the man who goes all the way to London to organise cases and the same guy comes to refurbish the Chikwa magistrate’s courts to hear Chiluba’s case at colossal sums of money and the man turns 180 degrees. The public is not foolish. George Kunda, in my view is going berserk. You don’t have a guy like this of a Vice-President and Minister of Justice.”
Mpombo accused Vice-President Kunda and President Rupiah Banda of usurping the powers of the Director of Public Prosecution (DPP).
“George Kunda and RB have ganged up to reduce the DPP office to that one as President Banda’s special assistant for miscarriage of justice. They are not handling issues on equal basis. Kunda must be told in no uncertain terms that he cannot be allowed to threaten people with impunity,” Mpombo said.
“As far as I am concerned myself, I want to say clearly and categorically that certainly the leadership we have in the name of George Kunda is a tragedy for Zambia and this man is trying to do everything possible to cling to that job. If he had the opportunity to have his motorcade in the air, flying, George Kunda would easily do that – motor vehicles in the air.”
Mpombo said Zambia was a democratic country hence government leaders must uphold good governance.
“Good governance must cut across the entire nation, across political line. Good governance is the one that gives confidence to the people that their government is fair and is serious,” Mpombo said.
“But this man Vice-President Kunda is a total disaster. Since independence of Zambia, this is the most useless Vice-President we have. He is a turncoat, he is a man who has no principles. And as Minister of Justice, what is he telling Rupiah Banda?”
Labels: AMUSA MWANAMWAMBA, GEORGE MPOMBO, PARLIAMENT
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COMMENT - No one should swear allegiance to an elected official. The Constitution, yes, but not a politician.
Defending what can’t be defended
By The Post
Sun 26 Sep. 2010, 04:00 CAT
Things must be called by their right names. This does not mean that one is speaking with hurt, harshly or insultingly about anyone. We should analyse and criticise seriously things people say. If one has told a lie, this cannot be called by any other name other than that of a lie. And one who tells a lie has no other description other than that of a liar.
It doesn’t matter what position or title one holds in society, if they tell a lie, it will be called a lie and they themselves liars. And no attempt should be made to create conditions suitable for people to tell lies.
As Amilcar Cabral aptly put it: “Tell no lies. Expose lies whenever they are told.” Lies shouldn’t be told because even from a biblical point of view, they are not allowed.
“What I say is the truth; lies are hurtful to me” (Proverbs 8:7); “To honour the Lord is to hate evil; I hate pride and arrogance, evil ways and false words” (Proverbs 8:13); “If you are good, you are guided by honesty. People who can’t be trusted are destroyed by their own dishonesty” (Proverbs 11:3); “Honesty makes a good man’s life easier, but a wicked man will cause his own downfall” (Proverbs 11:5); “Honest people will treat you fairly; the wicked only want to deceive you” (Proverbs 12:5); “A wicked man is trapped by his own words, but an honest man gets himself out of trouble” (Proverbs 12:13);
“When you tell the truth, justice is done, but lies lead to injustice” (Proverbs 12:17); “Honest people hate lies, but the words of wicked people are shameful and disgraceful” (Proverbs 13:5); “Evil people listen to evil ideas, and liars listen to lies” (Proverbs 17:4); “Respected people do not tell lies, and fools have nothing worthwhile to say” (Proverbs 17:7); “You will have to live with the consequences of everything you say” (Proverbs 18:20); “You have to hate someone to want to hurt him with lies. Insincere talk brings nothing but ruin” (Proverbs 26:28).
It doesn’t seem right for Speaker Amusaa Mwanamwambwa to go for George Mpombo who was telling the truth and protect a liar – Rupiah Banda – who was telling lies. There is nothing in what Mpombo said about Rupiah that cannot be truthfully defended. There is no doubt Mpombo successfully exposed Rupiah’s lies in a manner that could not be challenged. Mpombo was extremely factual in his exposition of Rupiah’s lies. Rupiah told lies and there is no doubt about it.
And one who tells lies is nothing but a liar. And since Rupiah lied, Mpombo was justified to call him a liar because this is the truth of the matter. It is not an insult on the President to call him a liar when he lies. Rupiah himself has called other people liars, sometimes even when they have not lied. But if they have lied, Rupiah would equally be justified to call them liars and there is nothing unfair or insulting about that – things have to be called by their names.
Speaker Mwanamwambwa asks a question: “But consider if it is a Zambian culture for adults to insult each other. Is it normal to call one another liars?” Firstly, it is not an insult to call one who lies a liar. Secondly, it is not an insult under the Zambian culture to call a liar a liar and denounce him as such. Actually, the Zambian culture abhors lies and liars.
And Speaker Mwanamwambwa went on to warn Mpombo and other members of parliament:
“When it comes to this House, each one of you subscribes to the oath of allegiance. Be careful what you say here or there. And the oath says allegiance to the President. What that means is that wherever you are, inside or outside this House you must represent the President.”
There is no member of parliament that has sworn any oath of allegiance to the President’s lies. They have sworn allegiance to the dignity and honour of that office and not to its lies and other evil deeds. When a president resorts to lies, he loses that honour; he is no longer a man of excellence or honour; he is a man without honour and dignity.
And this is why when people occupying that office are found wanting, those with some honour and dignity that has been affected quickly apologise to restore it. Rupiah has never apologised for any lies he has told. Rupiah lied about us; he falsely and maliciously accused us of having pocketed US $30 million from state institutions to build and own mansions, buy and drive strange cars.
And he assured the nation that he would collect that money from us so that he could use it to build hospitals and schools. None of these is true; it’s all lies. And Rupiah knows very well that he lied about us. But he has made no effort whatsoever to apologise to us and to the Zambian people he told lies. Truly, Mpombo was right in calling Rupiah a shameless liar. A man with shame would have apologised to us and to the nation for such big lies.
Speaker Mwanamwambwa says: “Insulting is not a sign of heroism or political championship. Honourable Mpombo is an honourable member of parliament, honourable! And no honourable member can utter such words.”
It is said that “he who is not afraid of death by a thousand cuts dares to unhorse the emperor” – this is the indomitable spirit exhibited by Mpombo and which is needed in our struggle to build a more honest, fair, just and humane nation. Whether Speaker Mwanamwambwa likes it or not, Mpombo is a hero. We say this because heroes are men and women chosen to bring happiness into the hearts of people – these are the real heroes. Mpombo is a hero because he has refused to defend lies even if it may be beneficial to him personally to do so. We are told in the Bible:
“Don’t allow yourself to be dominated by someone who is stupid or show partiality to influential people. Stand up for what is right, even if it costs you your life; the Lord God will be fighting on your side” (Sirach 4:27-28).
It is very difficult to defend a humble politician like Mpombo when he is pitted against a powerful person like the President.
Only heroes will defend the weak against the powerful. We don’t expect Speaker Mwanamwambwa to defend Mpombo and go for the President. It is said that “when a rich man stumbles, his friends will steady him, but if a poor man falls, his friends will have nothing to do with him. When a rich man makes a mistake, there are many people to cover up for him and explain away all the things he never should have said.
But let a poor man make a mistake, and he gets nothing but criticism. Even if what he says makes good sense, nobody will listen” (Sirach 13:21-22).
We wish Speaker Mwanamwambwa could learn something from United States president Franklin Roosevelt who observed that: “The President is merely the most important among a large number of public servants.
He should be supported or opposed exactly to the degree which is warranted by his good conduct or bad conduct, his efficiency or inefficiency in rendering loyal, able, and disinterested service to the nation as a whole. Therefore it is absolutely necessary that there should be full liberty to tell the truth about his acts, and this means that it is exactly necessary to blame him when he does wrong as to praise him when he does right.
Any other attitude in an American citizen is both base and servile. To announce that there must be no criticism of the president, or that we are to stand by the president, right or wrong, is not only unpatriotic and servile, but is morally treasonable to the American public. Nothing but the truth should be spoken about him or anyone else. But it is even more important to tell the truth, pleasant or unpleasant, about him than about anyone else.”
And Speaker Mwanamwambwa is wondering why the law enforcement agencies are not arresting and prosecuting people insulting Rupiah by calling him a liar. Probably they know more than the Speaker knows about Rupiah that the man is a liar, and they will just embarrass themselves by arresting people and taking them to court for calling him a liar.
This is so because in defamation, truth is the most potent defence. And there is no way Mpombo, with all that truth he pointed out about Rupiah telling lies, can fail to defend himself for calling Rupiah a liar. This can be like the case of Frederick Chiluba arresting us in 2001 for calling him a thief when he had actually stolen. There was no defamation here because the man had stolen. And one who steals is a thief.
All that needs to be proved is simply that the man has stolen. If Speaker Mwanamwambwa really wants to defend Rupiah from being called a liar, he should advise the law enforcement agencies to pounce on us for calling him a liar so that we can go to court and truly show that Rupiah tells lies and is a liar.
If calling Rupiah a liar is an insult, the only medicine that can cure this is for him to stop telling lies and live by the truth and the truth alone.
No amount of intimidation or threats from Speaker Mwanamwambwa or anyone else for that matter will stop Rupiah from being called a liar if he continues to tell lies. Clearly, Speaker Mwanamwambwa is trying to defend what cannot be defended.
Labels: AMILCAR CABRAL, AMUSA MWANAMWAMBA
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SACCORD accuses Speaker of being bias
By Mwala Kalaluka
Sun 26 Sep. 2010, 04:00 CAT
SACCORD has accused Speaker of the National Assembly Amusaa Mwanamwambwa of being clearly biased in the manner he handled Kafulafuta MMD parliamentarian George Mpombo for referring to President Rupiah Banda as a liar.
Commenting on Speaker Mwanamwambwa’s ruling on Wednesday that he could not act on Mpombo’s behaviour because the latter had challenged his expulsion from the MMD in court, Southern African Centre for the Constructive Resolution of Disputes (SACCORD) information officer Obby Chibuluma said Speaker Mwanamwambwa was violating the law and undermining the separation of powers.
“It is actually very disappointing that the Speaker can clearly be that biased,” Chibuluma said. “Whether someone is an MP or not they still enjoy their freedom of expression.”
Chibuluma said the courts of law that Speaker Mwanamwambwa had referred to in his ruling were conflict resolution institutions and whenever there was a process within the courts, it had to be respected no matter who was involved.
“Whether you like them or not or whether they praise sing for your boss,” Chibuluma said. “We are actually shocked that the Speaker could be talking to Mr Mpombo in that manner when there are about 22 members of parliament who have been undermining their institution and they were actually chased from PF a long time ago.”
Chibuluma charged that Speaker Mwanamwambwa was expressing double standards.
“We are actually surprised that the Speaker could be inciting the police to act on Mr Mpombo over those remarks. That is actually a clear abuse of the law now that the Speaker wants to assume the role of the prosecutor,” Chibuluma said.
“We are hoping that the police are also not going to get excited and act on the statement from the Speaker.”
Chibuluma said Speaker Mwanamwambwa should have been the last person to make such a political ruling.
“We believe that is a very political statement,” said Chibuluma.
Speaker Mwanamwambwa made the ruling after Bahati PF ‘rebel’ parliamentarian Besa Chimbaka raised a point of order on whether or not Mpombo was in order to call President Banda a liar through a story he gave to The Post, which was published on Tuesday, September 21, 2010.
Making a ruling on Chimbaka’s order, Speaker Mwanamwambwa said his hands were tied by the court where Mpombo had taken his party for expelling him.
“The courts have tied my hands because if I do anything that would be contempt of court. We have to abide by the rule of separation of powers. But consider if it’s a Zambian culture for adults to insult each other.
Is it normal to call one another liars?” Speaker Mwanamwambwa asked. “When it comes to this House each one of you subscribes to the oath of allegiance. Be careful what you say here or there. And the oath says allegiance to the President. What that means is that wherever you are, inside or outside this House you must represent the President.”
Speaker Mwanamwambwa warned that it was an offence under the law to insult the president.
“If some of you are privately friendly out there to any head of state, current or past, you leave it there. There is a section in the Penal Code and it’s still intact, which clearly stipulates that making disparaging remarks against the President is a serious offence and describes a penalty. I have heard many of you on radio referring to the Head of State in name only; that is an offence,” warned Speaker Mwanamwambwa.
“I don’t know where the law enforcement agencies are when this is happening. Honourable member, when you insult, you are not immune to prosecution. If you insult the law enforcement agencies should visit you. Insulting is not a sign of heroism or political championship. Honourable Mpombo is an honourable member of parliament, honourable! And no honourable member can utter such words. I’m assuming The Post quoted Honourable Mpombo correctly. If not he could have asked for a retraction, but he hasn’t. Why should the whole honourable member avoid to discuss these matters in the House and go outside.”
Labels: AMUSA MWANAMWAMBA, GEORGE MPOMBO, KAFULAFUTA, OBBY CHIBULUMA, PARLIAMENT, SACCORD
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Speakers orders Liato to remove Rupiah’s campaign badge from jacket
By Mwala Kalaluka
Fri 24 Sep. 2010, 16:00 CAT
SPEAKER Amusaa Mwanamwambwa on Thursday ordered the Sergeant-at-Arms to remove an “RB 2011” campaign badge from labour minister Austin Liato’s jacket on grounds that political campaign materials are not allowed in Parliament.
And Bweengwa UPND member of parliament Highvie Hamududu has described President Rupiah Banda’s talk about the country’s economic growth during his recent address before Parliament as fake and irrelevant.
During a question for oral answer session in Parliament on Thursday afternoon, Chipili PF parliamentarian Davies Mwila rose on a point of order and asked Speaker Mwanamwambwa to rule whether or not it was proper for Liato to come to the House putting on a badge written RB 2011.
“Mr Speaker is the Minister of Labour in order to come to this House with a badge saying ‘RB 2011’, which is a campaign material, is he in order?” Mwila asked. “I need your serious ruling.”
In his ruling, Speaker Mwanamwambwa said Mwila’s point of order was correct.
“The ruling is, it is not in order,” Speaker Mwanamwambwa said. “That campaign material (badge) should be confiscated.”
Speaker Mwanamwambwa said such campaign materials should not be allowed to enter the chamber and he directed the Sergeant-at-Arms who was seated at the back of the chamber to confiscate the badge from Liato, who was seated on the front bench.
As Speaker Mwanamwambwa delivered his ruling, Liato removed the badge and lands minister Gladys Lundwe handed it to the Sergent-At-Arms.
And during debate on President Banda’s speech to the fifth session of the tenth National Assembly, Hamududu said the poor translation of the presidential pronouncements into tangible programmes had reduced such speeches to a boring exercise.
“To a point where most of the Presidents’ addresses to this House have become boring,” Hamududu said. “No matter how special the speech will be that speech will be good for nothing.”
Hamududu said although Zambia had a weaker currency it was surprising that the country had a poor export base.
“A weaker currency promotes export. A strong currency is dangerous for a country like this one because you can’t export,” he said.
Hamududu said the economic growth that President Banda had referred to in his address was nothing because most Zambians were still poor.
“Therefore, this growth is at best fake,” Hamududu said. “That is irrelevant to the people of Bweengwa and elsewhere.”
Hamududu said maybe the government was creating the above economic growth for the foreigners that had invested in Zambia.
“The growth is not appreciated. It is at best fake because it does not address the issues,” said Hamududu. “The high poverty levels that the President acknowledged, the poverty is increasing.”
Labels: AMUSA MWANAMWAMBA, AUSTIN LIATO, HIGHVIE HAMUDUDU, MMD, PARLIAMENT
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Speaker is being partisan – Kazabu
By Ernest Chanda
Fri 24 Sep. 2010, 04:01 CAT
LACKSON Kazabu has charged that National Assembly Speaker Amuusa Mwanamwambwa is displaying inconsistencies by intimidating parliamentarians who are critical of President Rupiah Banda and the MMD government.
Commenting on Speaker Mwanamwambwa's ruling on Wednesday that he could not act on Kafulafuta MMD member of parliament George Mpombo's behaviour because the latter had challenged his expulsion in court, Kazabu, a former Kitwe mayor, said the Speaker was being partisan.
Speaker Mwanamwambwa made the ruling after Bahati Patriotic Front (PF) 'rebel' parliamentarian Besa Chimbaka raised a point of order on whether or not Mpombo was in order to call President Rupiah Banda a liar through a story he gave to The Post which was published on Tuesday September 21, 2010.
Chimbaka claimed that Mpombo's calling of President Banda a liar was an insult to the Presidency.
But Kazabu questioned the Speaker's rationale in passing such sentiments on Mpombo when there were many other opposition members of parliament whose expulsions were also being challenged in courts.
“The Speaker is depicting inconsistency in the manner he is treating some opposition members of parliament. The person sitting in that chair requires to treat every member of parliament equally. How is it that the Speaker could see a problem with Honourable George Mpombo for being critical of the President and his party when the same Speaker cannot see a problem with expelled members like Namwala UPND member of parliament Major Robbie Chizyuka and those in the PF?” Kazabu asked.
“That is intimidation which should not be entertained. He shouldn't be there to intimidate any member of parliament. But he must be there to show impartiality. And when he does that he will be inspiring public confidence in that institution.”
Kazabu advised the Speaker to have no favourites among parliamentarians, especially that they were all supposed to be people's representatives.
“I think the Speaker has become partisan in this manner and this is not healthy for our democracy. When presiding over such an institution like Parliament, you have to treat all members in the same manner. You cannot have a specific treatment for those members of parliament in good books with the ruling party and have another treatment for those critical of the ruling party. We all know how he has protected 'rebels' from the opposition who have been expelled by their parties,” said Kazabu.
Making a ruling on Chimbaka's point of order on Mpombo, Speaker Mwanamwambwa said his hands were tied by the court where Mpombo had taken his party for expelling him.
“The courts have tied my hands because if I do anything that would be contempt of court. We have to abide by the rule of separation of powers. But consider if it's a Zambian culture for adults to insult each other. Is it normal to call one another liars?” Speaker Mwanamwambwa asked.
“When it comes to this House, each one of you subscribes to the oath of allegiance. Be careful what you say here or there. And the oath says allegiance to the President. What that means is that wherever you are, inside or outside this House, you must represent the President.”
Speaker Mwanamwambwa warned that it was an offence under the law to insult the President.
“If some of you are privately friendly out there to any head of state, current or past, you leave it there. There is a section in the Penal Code and it's still intact, which clearly stipulates that making disparaging remarks against the President is a serious offence and describes a penalty. I have heard many of you on radio referring to the Head of State in name only; that is an offence,” warned Speaker Mwanamwambwa.
“I don't know where the law enforcement agencies are when this is hapenning. Honourable members, when you insult you are not immune to prosecution. If you insult, the law enforcement agencies should visit you. Insulting is not a sign of heroism or political championship. Honourable Mpombo is an Honourable member of parliament, honourable! And no honourable member can utter such words. I'm assuming The Post quoted Honourable Mpombo correctly. If not, he could have asked for a retraction, but he hasn't. Why should the whole Honourable member avoid to discuss these matters in the House and go outside?"
Labels: AMUSA MWANAMWAMBA, LACKSON KAZUBU, PARLIAMENT
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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
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Speaker warns political parties
By CHARLES MUSONDA
SPEAKER of the National Assembly Amusaa Mwanamwambwa has warned of action against any political party which disciplines its MPs on the basis of their debates in Parliament.
Mr Mwanamwambwa said on Thursday evening that no MP is allowed to threaten his fellow MP in Parliament.
“You may have differences in your parties but you cannot come here and threaten your fellow MPs with discipline, because that is unconstitutional. Do not threaten your fellow MPs. If I hear that an MP has been victimised because of what he or she said in Parliament, you will see action from me,” he said.
Mr Mwanamwambwa said this after Itezhi-Tezhi MP Godfrey Beene (UPND) said he would take it upon himself to discipline his Namwala counterpart Major Robbie Chizhyuka (UPND) for his continued attacks on the PF-UPND pact.
Mr Beene said if Major Chizhyuka is strong on the ground, he should quit the UPND and prove his political strength in a by-election.
He was countering Major Chizhyuka’s debate on the 2010 national budget.
In his debate, the Namwala MP said the beauty of the Zambian National Assembly is that all elected MPs are in the House courtesy of their constituents and voters.
“No matter how much cacophony, no matter how much noise you make, no matter how many petitions you make, we are here courtesy of the people in our constituencies,” Major Chizhyuka said.
He said it is proper for MPs to give credit to Government where it is due.
He said in 2006 he asked the people of Namwala to give him five years and said if the Choma-Namwala road is not tarred within that period, they should not re-elect him in 2011.
Major Chizhyuka said the government has continued to tar the road at a cost of K167 billion and that for the first time since 1964, the people of Namwala will be able to have a tarred road.
“Do you think people of Namwala cannot be happy? Government has made it possible to put a smile on the faces of people of Namwala,” he said.
Major Chizhyuka said government has also worked on the Niko-Monze road.
He said previously journeys between the two destinations used to take between five and eight hours but now they have been reduced to 55 minutes.
“Are you sure people can’t be happy? Do you expect me to come here and say this budget is hollow? Things are happening in my constituency and Namwala will soon have the fifth largest girls’ technical high school. Can’t the people be happy with such happenings?” Major Chizhyuka asked.
He advised newly elected Kasama Central MP Geoffrey Mwamba (PF) to be mindful that he will be judged on the extent to which he engages government in development programmes and not on how much he will lament in Parliament.
Major Chizhyuka said although the UPND is victimising him for his stance on the PF-UPND pact, Namwala was the best performing constituency in the 2006 general elections.
He said he will continue fighting for the people as he did in Sichifulo where some villagers were displaced.
Major Chizhyuka also praised government for allocating funds to the National Constitutional Conference (NCC).
He said it is unfortunate that political parties which were once considered liberal have now embraced violence, tribalism and intolerance.
“If you combine the Mapatizya formula and the Chawama hacking, then you will get the picture of what is unfolding for Zambia,” he said.
At this point Mapatizya MP Ackson Sejani (UPND) confronted Major Chizhyuka while pointing a finger at him.
And Matero MP Faustina Sinyangwe (PF) advised MPs to be realistic when criticising the government.
Mrs Sinyangwe said because of her realism, she has created many enemies in certain political circles.
“You don’t need to insult or beat someone in order to criticise. Leadership comes from God, and if you have bad intentions for your leadership, God will not give you. We have been at peace because God loves Zambia. Other people can do anything to get to certain positions,” Mrs Sinyangwe said amid heckles from PF MPs.
She dismissed interjections by Roan MP Chishimba Kambwili (PF) that she has been bought by government.
“No one can buy me and I do things that I believe in. I worked in the Ministry of Education for 32 years and came out clean. In other parties, it is taboo to disagree with leadership…antagonism is not my style,” she said.
Labels: AMUSA MWANAMWAMBA, GOVERNANCE, PARLIAMENT, POLITICS
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Speaker directs Konga to explain 50% Total International shares transaction
Tuesday, October 20, 2009, 17:31
Speaker of National Assembly Amusa Mwanamwambwa has directed Energy and Water Development Minister Kenneth Konga to give the house full details of the 50 percent Total International shares transaction.
Mr. Mwanamwambwa says there is need for the Minister of Energy to enlighten the house with complete details on the intention by government to buy 50% of Indeni shares from Total International.
He said the Minister should, during the course of this week, provide full information of the transaction process for other members to understand.
Mr. Mwanamwamba stated that other Members of Parliament (MPs) have the right to know about the on-going negotiations between government and Total International concerning the possible shares transaction because the house has a role to play in matters of national economy.
The Speaker’s directive comes after Chipili Member of Parliament Davis Mwila raised a point of order against Energy Minister’s decision not to inform the house on the on going 50 % shares sale negotiations between government and Total International.
Presently government is negotiating with Total international to buy the company’s 50 % shares in Indeni Petroleum refinery for it to completely take over as sole owners of the company.
The current ownership of Indeni refinery is shared between government and Total international with 50 % shares each.
ZANIS
Labels: AMUSA MWANAMWAMBA, FUEL, KENNETH KONGA
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‘Explain Zamtel sale’
By Times Reporter
SPEAKER of the National Assembly AMUSAA MWANAMWAMBWA has ordered Communication and Transport Minister Geoffrey Lungwangwa to update Parliament on the stage at which the privatisation of Zamtel has reached.
Mr Mwanamwambwa said that
it was imperative that members of Parliament had first hand information on the stages at which the privatisation of Zamtel had reached as opposed to getting information from members of the public.
The speaker made the order after Chipili Member of Parliament Davies Mwila (PF) rose on a point of order as to whether it was appropriate for the minister to be quiet particularly when debates on Zamtel were at the peak among members of the public.
Mr Mwila said that as MPs, it was appropriate for them to have first hand information on the privatisation of Zamtel and not to rely on information from members of the public.
“What is important is for the minister to update or appraise the House on what is going on regarding the status and the future of Zamtel. This House needs to be updated and the minister does not require several days. As early as next week let this House have an update,” Mr Mwanamwambwa said.
He also advised members to desist from participating in debates by the public saying their best medium of debates for MPs was in the House.
“I encourage members not to participate in debates because this is the best forum,”Mr Mwanamwambwa said.
And in a ministerial statement on the 13th ordinary session of the African Union (AU) summit and the 15th summit of the Non-Aligned Movement (NAM) held in Sirte, Libya and Sharm El-Sheikh in Egypt respectively, Foreign Affairs Minister, Kabinga Pande said that the two were beneficial to the nation.
Vice-President George Kunda represented the Government at the two summits.
He said that the AU summit whose theme was ‘Investing in Agriculture for Economic Growth and Food Security’ emphasised on member states to address the root cause of hunger and accelerate means of reducing poverty among the citizenry.
Member states, Mr Pande said, agreed that the continent should by 2015 improve productivity of agriculture to attain an average annual production growth rate of six per cent with particular attention to small-scale farmers, especially the women.
Mr Pande said that the theme for the NAM summit was ‘International Solidarity for Peace and Development’ as well as the current ‘Global Economic and Financial Crisis.’
He said that leaders discussed a number of issues particularly of maintaining peace among member countries.
Mr Pande said that the leaders also resolved to work together to tackle the numerous challenges that member states were facing.
Labels: AMUSA MWANAMWAMBA, DAVIES MWILA, PRIVATISATION, ZAMTEL
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Journalists' beating by MMD cadres worries Speaker
Written by Ernest Chanda and George Chellah
Friday, July 31, 2009 3:43:16
SPEAKER of the National Assembly Amusa Mwanamwambwa told the House on Thursday that the outside world has a perception that Zambia’s peace is at stake due to the conflict between journalists and cadres. And Transparency International-Zambia (TIZ) president Reuben Lifuka yesterday said the continued harassment of journalists was a source of shame.
Ruling on a point of order raised by Kabwata Patriotic Front member of parliament Given Lubinda who wanted to know if the Vice-President, the minister of Information and the minister of Home Affairs were in order to keep quiet when the harassment of journalists by MMD cadres was threatening peace in the country.
“Let me inform the House that this issue has been referred to in many fora. I have heard a lot of things as I interact, that the peace of this republic is under threat due to such conflicts. I personally will not rule over this matter. However I ask the Honourable minister of information to come and tell us what the conflict is between the media and cadres of a particular party,” Mwanamwambwa said in apparent reference to the continued harassment of journalists by MMD cadres.
“I have to inform you Honourable members from the Executive that I hear a lot of things. The information outside is that the republic is under threat because certain people have the monopoly to speak. So government must explain things whether the peace is under threat or there is a group of people who want to give a perception that peace is under threat. May the Honourable minister also explain the cause of this conflict between the media and cadres from a named political party,” he said as most MMD members of parliament shouted ya, ya, the cause, the cause!
Speaker Mwanamwabwa later asked Lt Gen Shikapwasha and other cabinet ministers to clarify more on the source of the conflict.
“I’m asking the Honourable minister of information and other cabinet ministers to come out and speak out to clarify this perception. With regard to this point of order raised by the Honourable member for Kabwata, let the Honourable minister of information speak to the nation at the earliest possible time, probably next week,” ruled Speaker Mwanamwambwa.
And Lifuka yesterday said the continued harassment of journalists was a source of shame.
"Transparency International Zambia calls on the Movement for Multi-Party Democracy (MMD) to urgently deal with the growing spectacle of political hooliganism in their rank and file before this spirals into uncontrollable political violence. The continued harassment of the journalists is a source of shame and the fact that this has been going on for some time, speaks volumes about the levels of discipline in the ruling party," Lifuka said.
"The culture of intolerance which is being insidiously promoted by the lack of action of both the MMD leadership and the Zambia Police will sooner than later metamorphose into anarchy and the ruling party will have no one to blame but themselves."
He said the fear for most people was that the cadres have become brazen and feel insulated from prosecution.
"... and thus what will stop such cadres from following people into their homes and offices to harass or beat them? Are we seeing a return of the Vigilantes?" Lifuka asked. "Recently, we heard of similar harassment of people at Soweto Market by suspected MMD cadres- why is the leadership allowing these cadres to tarnish their image and reputation?"
He said Zambia's democracy should be one founded on respect for diversity and MMD as the ruling party should be promoting this.
"Let politics be a platform for competition of ideas - it is a pity that slowly our politics is becoming bereft of issues and high intellectual engagement. We are regressing in our multi-party democracy and it seems a show of brawn over brains is creeping into the country's politics. It is small wonder that most Zambians do not want to have anything to do with politics- it simply not inspiring," Lifuka said.
"We have said this before and we wish to reiterate that MMD cadres who engage in such cases of assault and violence should be arrested and prosecuted. It is sad that the Zambia Police Service including their command, are reducing themselves to innocent bystanders when it is their duty to maintain law and order.
"It is morally not correct for any person to ignore the harassment and bullying of a fellow citizen, but it is negation of duty for a Police Officer to ignore calls for help from a person being assaulted. Such a Police Officer does not deserve his position and should accordingly resign from the Police Service."
He said both MMD cadres and ordinary Zambians need the protection of the Zambia Police Service.
"It is our taxes which are used to pay these Police Officers. For all you know, some of these cadres are loafers who do not even pay any taxes and yet they are the ones receiving favourable attention. Enough is enough and we want to warn the MMD that they will not be able to contain the spiral of violence if they fail to rein in their unruly cadres," he said.
He warned that violence begets violence.
"All that our founding fathers worked for in forging a nation of peaceful people- can easily go up in smoke all because we have cadres who are power drunk. In a similar vein, we want to use this opportunity to urge all political parties in Zambia to promote peace in their actions and language. Zambia is bigger than all the political players and nothing should be taken for granted," Lifuka said.
"The media needs to be respected for the role that they are playing in this country. Political cadres should not over-estimate themselves and imagine that they can set the agenda for the various media houses. Journalists are professionals who should be given the necessary space to do their work without any harassment."
Meanwhile, Speaker Mwanamwambwa urged the minister of communications and transport to update the House on Zamtel.
This was after Chipili PF member of parliament Davis Mwila raised a point of order.
"He has raised a point of order on a matter that has been alive to this House not one, not once but all times. What is important is for the Honourable minister of communications and transport to update the House on what is going on with regard to the status and future of Zamtel," Mwanamwambwa said.
"The newspaper that the member of parliament has quoted from referred to an intention to privatize the company. Even if that is the intention this House needs to be updated. If what is being discussed now is an intention at some point there will be a stage when a prospective partner will be found.
"The Honourable minister does not require several days on this matter. There is a lot of debate going on outside and I encourage this House not to participate in this debate, this is the forum. Let visitors or strangers join in this debate."
Labels: AMUSA MWANAMWAMBA, CADRES, MMD, POLITICAL VIOLENCE, REUBEN LIFUKA, TIZ
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Speaker won’t break PF, says Sata
Written by Chibaula Silwamba
Friday, April 03, 2009 6:54:32 PM
OPPOSITION Patriotic Front (PF) president Michael Sata has charged that Speaker of the National Assembly Amusaa Mwanamwambwa will not weaken the PF despite his relentless attempts to suppress it in favour of the ruling MMD.
Commenting on a 90-day suspension of PF Munali member of parliament Mumbi Phiri and 60-day suspension of PF 'rebel' member of parliament for Kawambwa Central Elizabeth Chitika-Mulobeka by Speaker Mwanamwambwa on Friday night after the duo physically fought and insulted each other in the parliamentary foyer last month, Sata claimed that the penalty against Phiri was stiffer than Chitika-Mulobeka's because the Speaker dislikes the PF.
"The aggressor is Elizabeth Chitika and because the Speaker has always been against the PF, he would like to weaken the PF. That is why the woman [Chitika-Molobeka] who was saying, 'I was going for her neck', gets a lighter sentence and the person who was getting bashed is the one who gets a severe sentence," Sata said. "But he will not succeed, he will not weaken us. The Speaker will not weaken us, he is wasting his time. If he wants to behave like a cadre, God bless him, let him continue. The public is seeing. The complainant going to prison [and] the one you are complaining of is set free."
He said the 60-day suspension of Chitika-Mulobeka was as good as setting her free.
"She is the victor, everybody knows. The CCTV, the security officers at Parliament they know that the aggressor was Mulobeka but according to the Speaker, Mumbi Phiri is the aggressor just because she belongs to the PF. This is the way he has been behaving towards this 'rebels'," Sata said. "Mumbi Phiri has been given three months suspension because she is not one of the 'rebels', the other one because she is a 'rebel' she gets a lighter sentence."
On Thursday, Speaker Mwanamwambwa reprimanded Kabwata PF member of parliament and party spokesperson Given Lubinda for misrepresenting parliamentary proceedings during a live TV interview concerning his [Speaker's] guidance on voting for the emolument bills that led to controversial increments of salaries and allowances for constitutional office holders.
But Sata said Lubinda had done nothing wrong.
"Given Lubinda was reprimanded for quoting [a] parliamentary website and they write him an apology themselves. What type of leadership is that?" Sata wondered.
Asked if he meant that Lubinda did not personally write an apology to the Speaker over his conduct, Sata responded: "They wrote it for him. That is the democracy we are running in Zambia."
He further claimed that the composition of the committee that analysed the cases involving Phiri and Chitika-Mulobeka, and Lubinda was bias.
"On that committee of theirs, all of them are MMD plus Sakwiba Sikota and our member who is supposed to be on that committee, Yamfwa Mukanga was a witness. So what do you expect from there? Sakwiba Sikota was campaigning for Rupiah Banda. Sakwiba can't look at justice; he is looking for a job like Nevers Mumba and Ephraim Mateyo," Sata said. "But anyway the people are seeing."
He said Speaker Mwanamwambwa was partial in his rulings.
"We have had four black Speakers in that Parliament; the first was Wesley Nyirenda, the second was [Robinson] Nabulyato, the third black speaker was Fwanyanga Mulikita and the most partial of them all is this [current] one, Amusaa Mwanamwambwa," said Sata. "Anyway we have a record that will remain as part of his legacy. Partiality will remain as his legacy. We have a complicated President and a complicated Speaker at the same time."
Labels: AMUSA MWANAMWAMBA, PF, SATA
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PF awaits Speaker’s decision on Shakas expulsion
Written by Patson Chilemba
Thursday, March 05, 2009 9:35:02 PM
PATRIOTIC Front (PF) will keep a watchful eye to see what Speaker of the National Assembly Amusaa Mwanamwambwa will do over expelled Jonas Shakafuswa and Lameck Chibombamilimo, party vice-president Guy Scott said yesterday.
Commenting on the expulsion of MMD members of parliament Shakafuswa [Katuba] and Chibombamilimo [Mpulungu] by their party national executive committee (NEC), Scott said PF expelled its members of parliament in similar circumstances as the duo was expelled from the MMD.
However, he said expelled PF parliamentarians' seats had not been declared vacant to date.
Scott said Speaker Mwanamwambwa had enough time to declare ‘rebel’ parliamentarians' seats vacant even before they challenged their expulsion in the courts of law.
"It concerns the picture of Africa that there is one set of laws for those in power and there is another for those on the opposition. We are very interested to see what he will do and what he will do about it [declaring Shakafuswa and Chimbombamilimo's seats vacant]," he said.
When asked on the grounds on which Shakafuswa and Chibombamilimo were expelled, Scott said ‘rebel’ members of parliament were expelled on similar grounds of indiscipline.
He said the by-elections would even be more costly because they had been sanctioned by President Rupiah Banda himself and he would be using public funds and helicopters during the campaigns.
"It is another logic, they can do whatever they want because they are in power. They tried to undermine our party by offering jobs and other luxuries to people," he said.
Asked if PF would incorporate expelled Shakafuswa and Chibombamilimo into the party, Scott said it was too early to discuss the matter.
"I'll talk to him [Shakafuswa] and see how he's feeling. Of course he is my fellow parliamentarian," said Scott.
MMD on Tuesday expelled Shakafuswa and Chibombamilimo from the party for alleged indiscipline and bringing the party into ridicule.
Labels: AMUSA MWANAMWAMBA, GUY SCOTT, JONAS SHAKAFUSWA, PF
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Speaker caused fight at Parliament – Sata
Written by Moses Kuwema and Agness Changala
Sunday, February 15, 2009 7:44:29 AM
PATRIOTIC Front (PF) leader Michael Sata yesterday accused Speaker of the National Assembly Amusaa Mwanamwambwa of causing the fight between parliamentarians Mumbi Phiri and Elizabeth Chitika-Mulobeka at Parliament grounds on Friday because of
his failure declare vacant seats held by rebel PF MPs. And Southern African Centre for Constructive Resolution of Disputes (SACCORD) executive director Lee Habasonda has asked Speaker Mwanamwambwa to be firm when handling matters of political parties.
Commenting on a fight that ensued at parliament buildings on Friday between Phiri and Mulobeka, Sata accused Speaker Mwanamwambwa of declaring open hostility by not declaring seats of ‘rebel’ MPs vacant.
"The Speaker is the cause of all this because we told him to declare those seats vacant but instead he chose to declare open hostility for the party," Sata said. "Elizabeth started the whole thing, she followed Mumbi in the corridor where she confronted her and that's where everything started from. But I know that the Speaker will not even punish her (Mulobeka), instead he will just smile.”
Sata further accused the Speaker of making the ‘rebel’ MPs grow big-headed because he was tolerating their behaviour. However, Sata said the fighting was normal, adding that even in countries like Japan, MPs threw chairs at each other.
And Habasonda accused the Speaker of dragging his feet in resolving matters involving certain political parties.
“We also want to think that the Speaker must be firm whenever he is handling such party matters,” he said.
Habasonda said the actions of Mumbi and Mulobeka were embarrassing and took away a lot from PF. He said if PF did not harmonise relations within their party, it was eventually going to lose people's confidence as a government in waiting.
“The party members must behave in a manner that people expect them to behave not the embarrassment that they have so far shown and the lack of respect for one another,” he said.
Habasonda wondered why PF members could not find a better way of addressing their differences instead of getting to an extent of fighting. He urged Sata to intervene in the confusion that had been going on in the party between ‘rebel’ parliamentarians and the others.
And on Friday at her Kabulonga residence, Phiri demanded to go for an HIV test with Mulobeka, claiming that she knew both her status and Mulobeka's.
“I thank God that I am married to a husband who loves me so much, but I can't allow him to touch me before I do the test,” she said.
Phiri said she was waiting for the Speaker's ruling on the matter.
Asked if she fought back during the argument, Phiri said she did not fight back and hence she was beaten.
“There are cameras at Parliament buildings and they will show if I fought back or not and I hope no one will say that they [cameras] are not working,” said Phiri. “I removed my shoes when I was attacked and if I wanted to fight back, I would have hit her (Mulobeka) with the shoes because she's too big for me to fight with.”
Labels: AMUSA MWANAMWAMBA, CATFIGHT, ELIZABETH CHITIKA-MULOBEKA, LEE HABASONDE, MPs, MUMBI PHIRI, PARLIAMENT, SACCORD, SATA
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PF MPs protest against Mpombo being leader of govt business in the House
Written by Mwala Kalaluka
Wednesday, November 12, 2008 8:42:46 AM
PATRIOTIC Front (PF) members of parliament yesterday walked out of the House after Speaker Amusaa Mwanamwambwa ruled that there was nothing improper in appointing George Mpombo as leader of government business.
The PF parliamentarians led by party vice-president Guy Scott walked out of the chamber at 14:49 hours after the ruling by Speaker Mwanamwambwa that the current Cabinet and any other person holding position before election would continue until the appointing authority deems otherwise.
When deliberations resumed in Parliament, Speaker Mwanamwambwa announced that he had received communication from the government that defence minister Mpombo had been appointed leader of government business in the House.
After the announcement, Mpombo moved from his usual seat to occupy the Vice-President's seat amid shouts especially from the MMD.
But during the question for oral answer session Scott stood on a point of order and asked Speaker Mwanamwambwa why Mpombo had been appointed acting leader of government business when the country had no vice-president.
"I am standing on a serious point of order bordering on constitutionalism, " Scott said. "We have heard that Honourable Mpombo has been appointed to act as leader of government business in the House but to act for who? To act for a non-existent person?"
Scott also questioned the presence of nominated members of parliament in the House when the new Cabinet had not yet been appointed.
"We don't want as PF to be part of an improper proceeding," Scott said.
In his ruling on the matter, Speaker Mwanamwambwa said the country on October 30 elected a Republican President.
"Please note that Cabinet was not dissolved, there was the acting President, who you all know, who was carrying out the functions of head of state," Speaker Mwanamwambwa said. "Cabinet following the October 30 elections continues until the current head of state so wishes. Please also note that where you have proper systems in place, government or the Executive continues irrespective of the vacancy that may exist in that particular Executive. Though it may not be visible to your eyes, the position of leader of government business does exist and continues as notified."
Speaker Mwanamwambwa said the position of leader of government business could not only be held by the Vice-President.
Speaker Mwanamwambwa said any senior minister could also be a leader of government business in the House.
"Since Parliament wasn't dissolved and you didn't go for any parliamentary election, all your positions continue as they were before including those held by nominated members of parliament until the appointing authority decides," Speaker Mwanamwambwa said.
As soon as the ruling was made, Scott walked out and he was followed by Jean Kapata [Mandevu], Mark Mushili [Ndola Central], Chishimba Kambwili [Roan], Wilber Simuusa [Nchanga], and Mwansa Kapeya [Mpika Central] among others.
And in an interview later, PF chief whip Yamfwa Mukanga said his party did not want to be part of unconstitutional proceedings.
"The people that are seated there are not supposed to be holding their positions," Mukanga who is also Kantanshi member of parliament said.
But Mpombo said the walk-out by PF members of parliament was uncalled for and he described it as poor interpretation of the law.
Labels: AMUSA MWANAMWAMBA, GEORGE MPOMBO, GUY SCOTT, PF
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Sata accuses Amusaa of being partisan over expelled PF MPs
By Brighton Phiri
Monday June 09, 2008 [04:00]
Patriotic Front (PF) president Michael Sata yesterday asked Speaker of the National Assembly Amusaa Mwanamwambwa to stop being partisan over his request for him to declare vacant seats of the 26 expelled PF members of parliament. And Sata said he would seek audience with President Levy Mwanawasa immediately he arrives from London this week to discuss the National Constitutional Conference (NCC) in its current form.
In an interview, Sata wondered why the Speaker was dragging his feet to declare vacant the seats of the 26 members attending the NCC without the blessings of his party.
“The Speaker must stop being partisan. Why illegally keep those 26 members of parliament who have been expelled?” asked Sata. “The Speaker doesn’t produce MPs, but political organisations do. And when these political organisations decide to withdraw the mandate from the MPs, the Speaker must act accordingly.”
Sata said Speaker Mwanamwambwa risked leaving behind a very bad legacy of partisanship if he continued to keep the 26 PF members of parliament in the House.
On his planned meeting with President Mwanawasa, Sata said the conditions, which forced President Mwanawasa to speed up the sitting of NCC no longer prevailed.
Sata said the NCC had been hijacked by UNIP and UPND cadres who were calling for the introduction of freedom fighters’ benefits in the Constitution because President Mwanawasa rushed the NCC without proper planning.
“This NCC has been hijacked by UNIP and other minority groups. Now UNIP is talking about the freedom fighters’ benefits. UNIP is not on the ground. FDD is not on the ground and UPND is losing ground,” Sata said. “At the rate we are going with this sham NCC, they will only produce a document bigger than a Bible…it is going to be another Abel Muzorewa and Ian Smith affair where a minority group was brought into the liberation struggle negotiation for the sake of causing confusion.”
Sata disclosed that he had received complaints from among other NCC accredited members, some ministers, whom he said were complaining against the lavish allowances paid to NCC members.
He wondered why Vice-President Rupiah Banda wants the people of Katete to write him a letter for his office to release relief food when money was freely given to NCC members.
“I am going to ask for a meeting with President Mwanawasa over this sham NCC because it has lost its direction,” said Sata.
Labels: AMUSA MWANAMWAMBA, PARLIAMENT, SATA
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