(NEWZIMBABWE) MP thrown out for reading novel in Parliament
03/10/2013 00:00:00
by Staff Reporter
BULAWAYO South MP Eddie Cross (MDC-T) was thrown out of Parliament on Thursday after reading a novel during a debate on the President’s Speech. The Deputy Speaker Mabel Chinomona interrupted a speech by Zanu PF’s Daniel MacKenzie Ncube to give Cross his marching orders.
“Order! Honourable Cross is reading a novel, can you please stand up and I will send the Sergeant-At-Arms to escort you so that you read the novel outside this House,” the Deputy Speaker said. The Sergeant-At-Arms escorted the red-faced Cross outside as MPs fell about laughing.
Chinomona called for order again: “Order! Order Honourable Members! Honourable Mackenzie you can resume your debate.”
The Speaker of Parliament Jacob Mudenda has been warning MPs against breaking the House etiquette and decorum – from walking across the House when an MP is debating, the use of mobile phones to failing to stand when he walks in.
During a debate on Wednesday, Mberengwa East MP Makhosini Hlongwane (Zanu PF), was also escorted out after the Speaker saw him on the phone.
Mudenda said: “Order! One of the announcements I made as we started business, I said, we must switch off our cell phones. Honourable Hlongwane was entertaining a call in this Honourable House. I therefore request the Serjeant-At-Arms to escort him out of the House.”
It was a theme Mudenda returned to before opening Thursday’s debate – but this time he said he was giving MPs a final warning.
“May I make this other announcement, Honourable Members, do not test the patience of the Chair and the Chair’s accommodation, especially when we advise that members should switch off their cellphones before business commences,” he told MPs.
“I don’t want to see a repeat of what happened yesterday [Hlongwane incident]. I will not make further announcements about switching off cellphones when we next sit. It must be taken as a Standing Order.”
Labels: EDDIE CROSS, MPs, PARLIAMENT, RHODESIANS
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(NEWZIMBABWE) Chinotimba steals show in Parliament
Shooting from the hip ... Joseph Chinotimba addressing reporters earlier this year
25/09/2013 00:00:00
by Staff Reporter
BUHERA South MP Joseph Chinotimba injected much-needed vitality to the dour proceedings in Parliament on Tuesday, in the process surprising many with the lucidity of his debate contribution.
The colourful former leader of the war veterans’ association – whose picture showing him smiling through gapped front teeth while donning a thatch hat became one of the most iconic images of the land invasions – brought light relief to MPs debating the serious subject of President Robert Mugabe’s speech.
But the Zanu PF lawmaker, making his maiden speech following his election on July 31, had some serious contribution to make – away from the histrionics that accompany his delivery.
Parliament’s communication system seemed to fail as Chinotimba rose to speak, briefcase in hand.
Buhera is experiencing extreme poverty, the MP said, and the Agriculture Ministry must be given more money “without wasting time debating it”, he demanded.
The Grain Marketing Board, the government’s grain reserve, must be given more money in order to buy maize from farmers at a fair price, he said, warming to his theme.
“In Buhera, the terrible, potholed and impassable roads now have names. Ndinoona dzimwe nzvimbo dzirikuiswa tara pamusoro peimwe tara (Yet if you go to some parts of the country they are putting tarred roads on top of tarred roads),” he said, his whole contribution delivered in Shona.
While still on the issue of roads, Chinotimba turned to a sore point that many of the gathered MPs who have a rural home have been living with for the last 15 or so years following the looting and subsequent incapacitation of the District Development Fund (DDF).
Said Chinotimba: “ZINARA (Zimbabwe National Roads Administration) must not focus on repairing the tarred roads only. What about the dust roads? Who will fix those?”
Chinotimba then turned to corruption – a key theme of Mugabe’s government programme announced during the official opening of the first session of the eighth parliament on Tuesday last week.
“I applaud President Mugabe for his stance against corruption,” he said. “But the biggest question is where is corruption found? Corruption irikutangwa nevanhu vanemari, kwete vasina (Corruption starts with those with money, not the poor). If you look for corruption here in Parliament, you will find it,” he said, drawing laughter from the packed House.
“For example, if Zanu PF MPs laugh at MDC MPs, and MDC MPs laugh at Zanu PF MPs, that’s corruption!”
Chinotimba called on all Zimbabweans to “unite kuti zvinhu zvifambe”, before majestically walking away from the dispatch box, swinging his briefcase.
Other MPs stood up to make their contributions, but their thunder had been stolen by a man talking from the heart – just as those who elected him would want it!
Labels: JOSEPH CHINOTIMBA, MPs, PARLIAMENT
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(TALKZIMBABWE) All MPs sworn in, save for two from MDC-T
This article was written by Our reporter on 3 September, at 19 : 54 PM
Members of Parliament from the opposition Movement for Democratic Change (MDC-T) party led by Morgan Tsvangirai have been sworn in alongside all the other legislators from Zanu-PF.
This is a turnaround from the MDC-T’s threat that they will boycott government after they lost the election to Zanu-PF.
The swearing ceremony started just after 9 am in the morning with the legislators taking the oath in batches of nine in alphabetical order. Clerk of Parliament, Austin Zvoma was presiding.
There was slight drama as some members of the National Assembly initially missed the swearing in ceremony. These included Tendai Biti, Kudakwashe Bhasikiti and Nelson Chamisa, who later tried to persuade parliament officials to have them sworn in in a different batch.
The three were finally successfully sworn in.
MDC-T MPs Dangamvura Chikanga MP Arnold Tsunga and Joel Gabuza missed the swearing in ceremony as they were late.
A small group of rowdy MDC-T backbenchers, when Samuel Sipepa Nkomo and wife Rose were taking oath, could be heard shouting ” Shumba ya Jonathan Moyo”, apparently in reference to Rose Nkomo who beat Professor Moyo in Tsholotsho North constituency
Clerk of Parliament, Austin Zvoma who was conducting the swearing in ordered Dzivarasekwa MP Solomon Madzore of MDC-T to sit down after he had walked forward in a bid to have himself sworn in as he had not yet arrived when his name was called out.
Other legislators who took oath included Zanu-PF members Murewa South MP Biggie Matiza, Outgoing Defence Minister and Chirumhanzi Zibagwe MP Emmerson Mnangagwa, Outgoing Mines Minister Obert Mpofu and his wife, Outgoing Minister for Presidential Affairs and Headlands member of National Assembly Didymus Mutasa, Outgoing Tourism and Hospitality Minister and Masvingo South MP Walter Mzembi, Norton MP Chris Mutsvangwa, Francis Nhema and Sylvester Nguni.
Mudzi South MP Jonathan Samkange shook hands with Emmerson Mnangagwa and Kembo Mohadi soon after he (Samkange) had finished taking his oath. Samkange stood as an independent after Mashonaland East Zanu PF leadership barred him from contesting on a party ticket.
Families and relatives celebrated the MPs’ victory during the harmonized elections.
The first business of the House started with a motion to elect the Speaker and the business was officiated by Chief Justice Godfrey Chidyausiku. Zanu-PF’s Jacob Francis Mudenda was sworn in as Speaker of Parliament. Deputy Speaker, Zanu-PF’s Mabel Chinomona was also sworn in.
The Speaker gave his first speech in which he congratulated his fellow MPs for winning and pointed out that the executive is there to implement public programmes while the judiciary concerns itself with matters of justice, but they were nevertheless institutions of the same government led by President Mugabe.
He said the House should not be a rubber stamping body, but should respect the other two arms of government, the Judiciary and the Executive.
He also reminded legislators that the chamber was not a chamber for assaulting or shouting out obscenities, but was an august House that should be respected and that all legislators derived their mandate from the people and the people expect seriousness in conducting business.
He promised to perform his Speaker duties according to electorate`s expectations.
When the floor was opened to members, Didymus Mutasa gave his congratulatory message, reminding the legislators that in his days as Speaker of Parliament, it was difficult to control the MPs, and he hoped this Parliament would be different. He said that he expected members of Zanu PF (who make up the majority ) to respect the Speaker in order to achieve progress in this current session.
Vice President Joice Mujuru said sometimes people look down upon those from the rural areas such as Binga where the speaker comes from, and other areas like Dande and Malipati which are remote. She said this should be shunned by the House. She added that there are no special areas or areas that are more important than others.
When the Parliament was adjourned, the House broke into song.
All MPs from Lower House were sworn in save for Gabuza and Tsunga who were absent.
Each parliamentarian was allowed to bring three family members or friends for the occasion. There are 210 constituency MPs, 60 from the women`s quota.
Labels: MDC, MPs, PARLIAMENT
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It's political incest for UPND to poach MMD MPs - Kaingu
By Agness Changala and Mwala Kalaluka
Sun 07 July 2013, 14:01 CAT
DORA Siliya says she is still a member of the MMD, a party she is proud of. And MMD vice-president for politics Michael Kaingu says it is political incest for the UPND to continue poaching MMD members of parliament whose seats have been nullified.
But the UPND says there is nothing strange about the party's overtures to former MMD members of parliament to stand on its ticket during by-elections arising from the nullification of their parliamentary seats.
Responding to revelations by sources that UPND wanted Siliya and Maxwell Mwale to stand on the party ticket in Petauke Central and Malambo respectively,
Siliya, whose seat was nullified by the Supreme Court, denied having any links with the UPND.
"I don't know at what point somebody said me I was linked to UPND and who told you that information, because as far as I am aware, I am still MMD and that is where I have links," Siliya said in an interview.
Siliya, who said she had returned from the constituency, explained that she held talks with MMD there.
Siliya said her concern now was to try and attend to problems people were facing in Petauke Central Constituency.
She said Petauke has had no fuel for two weeks and there was no maize in the sheds.
Siliya said people in Petauke were also complaining because they did not get any fertiliser and could not afford three meals a day.
"They eat one meal a day. They have even given it a name. They call it one teleka (one pot) and they are saying now, we don't have three teleka but one teleka because there is real hunger. That is what I found in Petauke and that is what concerns me now," she said.
Siliya said when she was in Petauke, she also spoke with the general public and what she found were queues for ARVs because they were in short supply.
Siliya said patients were on monthly and weekly rations of drugs instead of three months in advance.
And commenting on revelations that the UPND wanted Siliya and Mwale, Kaingu yesterday wondered why the UPND had opted to start scoring in the MMD's goal when they were supposed to be a team.
"I am actually aware through The Post that our colleagues have approached our members for possible standing on their ticket in the forthcoming by-elections," Kaingu said. "The UPND have not discussed with us, to my knowledge. Unless they discussed with the other vice-president."
He said even if they discussed the issue with MMD leader Nevers Mumba, he would have been kept in the know because the matter fell directly under his political jurisdiction.
He said the UPND's argument that it worked well for the opposition when a member of the opposition resigns from his party and joins the UPND was questionable.
"I can't change their view but my views are that we are pockets of the same trousers. Does it really make sense? Does it make you change your position by taking money from one pocket into another pocket?" Kaingu asked. "Time will tell whether these modalities can work for the opposition because what is happening now is acrimony that is creeping into the opposition."
Kaingu said there was a ploy by the UPND and the PF to finish the MMD and he wondered why some of his members had made themselves vulnerable to being poached.
"We would not want to lose our members. If you were my relative, I don't think it would be good for you to be the one impregnating my children; let me use that metaphor. What I want from you is to be able to help me take the children to school," he said. "Our colleagues, they think that if we lose a member then it will be better for them. I have no evidence, they are enticing our members to join them."
Kaingu, who is also Mwandi MMD member of parliament, said the PF was going to consume the opposition parties if they continued operating in that manner.
"We constitute a team and then because someone believes that we must score then they start scoring in our own goal. I don't think that is a good team. Us and UPND are a team and I don't know why they are scoring in our goal," he said. "You saw that statement on TV by Bowman Lusambo and others. I don't know whether now the view of some of our members are such that we must interact with PF. Will it help our colleagues in the opposition if some of our members start speaking in the manner they are speaking?"
And UPND deputy spokesperson Cornelius Mweetwa said the issue of approaching members of parliament from the MMD whose seats had been nullified to stand on the UPND ticket was not unprecedented following what transpired in the recently held Kapiri Mposhi and Lukulu West by-elections.
"It is not something new. There is nothing special about it," he said. "There is nothing strange about these overtures and these approaches. It is something that is normal to the two parties."
Mweetwa said these were stubborn facts that would remain like the reality that sunlight always appeared every day.
"It is also factual that in some constituencies when you go for by-elections, it is easier for PF to decampaign MMD as a party than it is for them to decampaign UPND as a party because UPND has never been in government but MMD was in government for 20 years," he said.
Mweetwa said by getting former MMD members of parliament to stand on the UPND ticket, it would reduce the effects of the anti-MMD campaign messages that the PF would be unleashing.
"It is too early and pre-emptive for us to say we can give it Petauke Central and Malambo to the MMD for now because we believe our party is strong. It is growing. Our party stands a better chance in terms of campaign messages on the ground," said Mweetwa.
"We can't cannibalise MMD. They are our partners in opposing the PF. I do believe that UPND is not going to act unilaterally. If the UPND is desirous of fielding any of the former MMD members of parliament, it is something which they will not do in the dark because you can't hide such things. They will have to negotiate."
Labels: DORA SILIYA, MICHAEL KAINGU, MMD, MPs, UPND
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Poaching MPs is essential - Scott
By Allan Mulenga and Laura Karlin
Sat 29 June 2013, 14:00 CAT
VICE-PRESIDENT Guy Scott yesterday said poaching of opposition members of parliament is essential because politics is a game of numbers. And Vice-President Scott says the government has spent K22 billion on by-elections this year.
Responding to Choma Central UPND member of parliament Cornelius Mweetwa, who wanted to know how much the government had so far spent on by-elections and how much was budgeted for elections this year, Dr Scott wondered why the opposition were complaining over the government's decision to appoint its members of parliament to serve in the government when the MMD government poached PF members of parliament.
"I don't understand why the UPND and the MMD complain when we invite their members to serve in government. They poached our members, we didn't complain. Poaching is essential because politics is a game of numbers," he said.
Vice-President Scott refuted claims by the opposition that the PF was deliberately causing by-elections.
"If the opposition allows their members to serve in government, there wouldn't be by-elections. Some seats are being nullified by the Supreme Court and there is nothing that we can do about it. They should not blame the PF over the by-elections," said Vice-President Scott.
He also said the government had spent K22 billion this year on by-elections.
"I wish to tell the House that K5 billion was budgeted for by-elections in the Yellow Book this year. For the year, we have spent K22 billion on by-elections, giving us a budget overrun of K17 billion, which we are going to get from the contingency fund," said Vice-President Scott.
Labels: BY-ELECTIONS, GUY SCOTT, MPs
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Mukanga warns absentee MPs
By Moses Kuwema
Wed 06 Mar. 2013, 14:00 CAT
PARLIAMENTARY Chief Whip, Yamfwa Mukanga has warned members of parliament against staying away from proceedings in the House, saying doing so was an act of dishonesty.
According to a letter dated February 27, 2013 and addressed to all members of parliament, Mukanga reminded them that it was not only unparliamentary to stay away from Parliament, but also an offence. He regretted that many members of parliament stay away from the House without permission.
"There has also been noted, a growing trend of honourable members of parliament coming to the House briefly, registering their presence and thereafter disappearing for the rest of the day, thereby missing out substantially from proceedings of the day. This is not only unbecoming, but smacks of dishonesty and is, therefore, unexpected of a member of parliament," read the letter.
Mukanga said equally, time-keeping during breaks had become a challenge for some members of parliament.
"This serves to inform you that henceforth, you are all reminded of the fact that you are all duty-bound to attend sittings of the House punctually and be present throughout," Mukanga stated.
But some members of parliament talked to observed that it was difficult for them to be in the House the whole time because of the parliamentary by-elections that were taking place in different places.
"Most of the members of parliament have been travelling to constituencies where by-elections are taking place. Some had gone to Mpongwe and Livingstone and now we have Lukulu and Kapiri Mposhi. For as long as these by-elections continue, it will be difficult for members of parliament to be in the House throughout," said the members of parliament who sought anonymity.
Labels: MPs, PARLIAMENT, YAMFWA MUKANGA
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Mukanga warns absentee MPs
By Moses Kuwema
Wed 06 Mar. 2013, 14:00 CAT
PARLIAMENTARY Chief Whip, Yamfwa Mukanga has warned members of parliament against staying away from proceedings in the House, saying doing so was an act of dishonesty.
According to a letter dated February 27, 2013 and addressed to all members of parliament, Mukanga reminded them that it was not only unparliamentary to stay away from Parliament, but also an offence. He regretted that many members of parliament stay away from the House without permission.
"There has also been noted, a growing trend of honourable members of parliament coming to the House briefly, registering their presence and thereafter disappearing for the rest of the day, thereby missing out substantially from proceedings of the day. This is not only unbecoming, but smacks of dishonesty and is, therefore, unexpected of a member of parliament," read the letter.
Mukanga said equally, time-keeping during breaks had become a challenge for some members of parliament.
"This serves to inform you that henceforth, you are all reminded of the fact that you are all duty-bound to attend sittings of the House punctually and be present throughout," Mukanga stated.
But some members of parliament talked to observed that it was difficult for them to be in the House the whole time because of the parliamentary by-elections that were taking place in different places.
"Most of the members of parliament have been travelling to constituencies where by-elections are taking place. Some had gone to Mpongwe and Livingstone and now we have Lukulu and Kapiri Mposhi. For as long as these by-elections continue, it will be difficult for members of parliament to be in the House throughout," said the members of parliament who sought anonymity.
Labels: MPs, PARLIAMENT, YAMFWA MUKANGA
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Explain new money, directs Sata
By YANDE SYAMPEYO
PRESIDENT Sata has directed all Patriotic Front (PF) members of Parliament to visit their constituencies and assist Government in raising awareness about the rebased currency. This is according to a circular to all PF parliamentarians dated January 3, 2013.
Mr Sata directed the MPs to visit their constituencies as well as those held by the opposition to educate people on the new currency and the need to change their old currency.
“Would you please make an effort to visit your constituencies and those which belong to other political parties and urge the people of Zambia to change their old currency before the end of June this year,” the circular reads in part.
This is according to a statement released yesterday by the President’s spokesman, George Chellah.
Mr Sata further told the parliamentarians to inform him on the difficulties people are facing with the rebasing exercise.
The head of State, who explained that it is an internationally established practice to rebase a currency during periods of low and stable inflations, expressed confidence that the rebasing of the Kwacha will continue without hindrance.
The rebased currency was introduced on Tuesday and will be used side-by-side with the old currency until June 30, 2013.
Labels: CORRUPTION, MICHAEL SATA, MPs
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Sata directs PF MPs to visit their areas
By Henry Sinyangwe
Sat 05 Jan. 2013, 14:40 CAT
PRESIDENT Michael Sata has directed all PF members of parliament to visit their constituencies and assist the government in sensitising the general public on the rebased currency.
According to a statement released yesterday by his special assistant for press and public relations, George Chellah, the directive is inFrom front page
circular to all PF members of parliament dated January 3, 2013.
"Would you please make an effort to visit your constituencies and those which belong to other political parties and urge the people of Zambia to change their old currency before the end of June this year. Kindly let me know the difficulties which our people may be facing in this exercise," read President Sata's circular in part.
He expressed confidence that the rebasing of the kwacha would continue without hindrance.
President Sata explained that it was an internationally established practice to rebase a currency during the periods of low and stable inflations.
Labels: MICHAEL SATA, MPs, PF
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PF to adopt UPND MPs
By Allan Mulenga in Lusaka and Misheck Wangwe in Kitwe
Tue 04 Dec. 2012, 09:00 CAT
ALL UPND members of parliament will be adopted by the PF if the party decides to expel them, says Wynter Kabimba. And Kabimba says those that want to be friends with President Michael Sata and the PF must stay away from corruption.
In an interview yesterday over UPND's charging of its Sinazongwe member of parliament Richwell Siamunene with gross misconduct for working with the PF, Kabimba, who is PF secretary general, said it was the party policy to adopt members of parliament expelled from other political parties on account of working with the PF.
"PF adopted this policy following the resignation of former Mporokoso member of parliament Maynard Musapa when he resigned as deputy sports minister in the MMD. He was automatically adopted.
Since that time, we have adopted that policy as a party that whoever takes the risk in the political parties where they are and decides to join the Patriotic Front while holding a position in Parliament, that person shall automatically be adopted as a matter of principle. We have held on to that principle starting from Musapa's case ending now recently in Stephen Masumba case," he said.
Kabimba, who is also justice minister, said the PF would work with all dedicated Zambians regardless of their political affiliation.
"Every well-meaning Zambian must have one day to render public service to the people of Zambia. To Zambia as a country not Zambia segmented into provinces; not Zambia which is segmented into regional enclaves," he said.
"My encouragement to all those… is that it is time they made up their minds to come forward and serve the people of Zambia. This country needs the service of everybody at the national level. We ourselves in the Patriotic Front have made that position clear that every Zambian of skill of dedication; of commitment will be most welcome to serve the people of Zambia through the Patriotic Front."
Kabimba said UPND's fortunes had dwindled over time.
"My piece of advice to them is that the time is now because they can clearly see and the whole country can clearly see that the chances of UPND ever growing beyond what it is today are very slim. Those that would like to serve the people of Zambia on a broader scale than the regional scale, than a provincial scale, then certainly the only vehicle they have to render that service is the Patriotic Front.
People must choose. Do you want to render service to only your tribespeople or do you want to render public service beyond the tribes tribespeople?" asked Kabimba.
The UPND has charged Siamunene with gross misconduct contrary to article 7 (b) of the party's disciplinary code of conduct.
The charge comes after allegations that he had been associating with some senior PF government officials contrary to the interests of the UPND.
In a letter dated July 18, 2012, which was made available to The Post on Wednesday, signed by UPND secretary general Winstone Chibwe and copied to UPND president Hakainde Hichilema and others, Chibwe stated that Siamunene was required to appear before the disciplinary committee to exculpate himself.
Chibwe stated that it was with deep regret that in responding to the charges, Siamunene deemed it fit to first send an emissary in the name of his wife, who abused their party president and the management of the party.
He stated that Siamunene's wife informed him and Hichilema that she had inside information that Hichilema did not want her husband to be adopted because he preferred former area member of parliament, Raphael Muyanda.
And speaking on Saturday at Mindolo Dam in Kitwe, where he officiated at the fundraising braii for the purchase of the vehicle for PF Kalulushi district, Kabimba said PF members must protect the integrity of the party by upholding the ideals and values that the president held in high esteem.
"Michael Sata is not a crook. He hates corruption and those that want to work with us, those that want to be our friends and friends of the president must walk away from corruption. The Michael Sata I know has rich values, he respects the people and he truly loves Zambia," Kabimba said.
He said the PF had more than five years in government because Zambians had not forgotten how they suffered under the corrupt MMD.
Kabimba said the people of Zambia had not forgotten how politicians in the MMD made themselves rich when the people were wallowing in poverty, adding that the PF would not entertain such politicians to serve in government.
He said what would make the PF survive longer than any other political party was discipline and respect for the leadership up to the head of state.
"How can people forget in five years and bring a pastor who ran away from administering a church and lead this country? How? You failed to run a small congregation, how can you run the affairs of more than 13 million people?
You Nevers Mumba abandoned your own political party and hijacked another and you hope to win in 2016? How can someone UPND's Hakainde Hichilema hope to win an election when he is confined to one region of Zambia? You can't. You need to win the confidence of 13 million the way Michael Sata did, for you to become president of this country," Kabimba said.
Kabimba said an organisation that had no respect for the people and its leadership could not survive.
And newly-appointed Copperbelt PF provincial chairman Robert Mwewa said the party in the province would raise its own money and intensify its operations.
"We don't want this syndrome of depending on the national secretariat or the tendency of the past regime of using government vehicles. We will sacrifice what we have to consolidate our party and we will make sure that all districts fundraise for their vehicles," Mwewa said.
Kabimba donated K10 million towards the purchase of the PF Kalulushi vehicle while Kalulushi member of parliament Rayford Mbulu donated K10 million and Richard Musukwa, who is mines deputy minister, also donated K5 million together among others.
Labels: MPs, PARLIAMENT, PF, UPND, WYNTER KABIMBA
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National Assembly has no powers to expel an MP
By Kabanda Chulu and Ernest Chanda
Mon 01 Oct. 2012, 12:10 CAT
THE National Assembly has no powers to expel a member of parliament who has committed an offence because he or she is an elected person, it has been learnt.
And MMD Mwandi Member of Parliament Michael Kaingu, who tore to pieces President Michael Sata's speech in Parliament, is likely to be charged with either contempt of the House or gross misconduct, whose penalties are suspension, fine or severe reprimand.
Commenting on the matter where some people including PF director of media and publicity Chanda Mfula have been calling for the expulsion of Kaingu, a source who preferred anonymity, yesterday said Kaingu's action was unprecedented since it was the first time a member of parliament had acted that way.
"It has never happened in the history of the National Assembly and there are no precedents to that effect, so the most likely penalties will be contempt of the House or gross misconduct and not expulsion because a member of parliament is elected by the people who have given him or her the mandate to come to the assembly," said the source.
According to Chapter 12 of the Laws of Zambia and the National Assembly powers and privileges Act, Kaingu's case would be handled by the Privileges, Absences and Support Services Committee which is chaired by the deputy speaker Mkhondo Lungu.
Other members of the committee include the minister of Justice Wynter Kabimba, government chief whip Yamfwa Mukanga, Jack Mwiimbu, Bweupe Ng'onga, Gary Nkombo, Prof Geoffrey Lungwangwa and Catherine Namugala.
The committee would look at the case and determine the appropriate charge for Kaingu's conduct.
And National Assembly standing orders of 2005, that deal with order in the House, standing order number 70 states that the Speaker or the chairperson of committees, shall order a member whose conduct is grossly disorderly to withdraw immediately from the House for the remainder of that day's sitting.
"If, however, on any occasion, the Speaker or the Chairperson of Committee, considers that the powers conferred under this standing order are inadequate to deal with the offence, he or she may name such member," it stated.
"After naming such a member, the leader of government business shall move a motion to suspend the named member and the motion shall be 'that (naming the member) be suspended from the services of the Assembly."
Kaingu tore President Sata's speech saying the head of state did not address serious issues.
He defended his action saying he did so to safeguard Parliament's decorum.
Labels: MICHAEL KAINGU, MPs
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Spare me for now, begs randy MP Sikwela
By Edwin Mbulo in Livingstone
Sun 02 Sep. 2012, 10:29 CAT
SPARE me for now, pleaded Livingstone UPND member of parliament Reverend Howard Sikwela whose appeal against his adultery case was thrown out by the High Court.
Asked to comment on Judge Ernest Mukulwamutiyo's decision to uphold the magistrate court's ruling upholding the local court's guilty verdict and subsequent fine K3.5 million payable in monthly instalments of K100,000 with effect from September 30, 2003 after Hakazinga Habanyama sued him in the local court for having an affair with his wife, Munakasaka Chikuba, Rev Sikwela said he would opt not to say anything at the moment.
"What exactly do you want from me? I would appreciate if you could spare me for now," Sikwela said.
When reminded that the High Court had thrown out his appeal against a lower court's guilty verdict against him in an adultery suit, Rev Sikwela merely responded: "no, no, I'm not in a position to say anything."
According to the judgment dated August 24, 2012, judge Mukulwamutiyo dismissed Rev Sikwela's appeal, saying it was based on facts proved before it.
Judge Mukulwamutiyo said there was sufficient proof to show that Rev Sikwela was involved in an adulterous affair while serving as principal at David Livingstone Teachers College of Education of Education (DALICE).
Rev Sikwela of Brethren in Christ Church was found guilty of sharing love with Chikuba who was married in 1987.
The court further stated that Chikuba admitted to the existence of an illicit love affair between them in writing.
Habanyama, who was represented by John Kapepe of MAK Partners, submitted that the fact that Rev Sikwela and his Chikuba shared a guest room No 124 constituted evidence of adultery.
Judge Mukulwamutiyo in his judgment found that even
Rev Sikwela had conceded that the evidence given by the complainant, Habanyama, was sufficient for anyone to suspect that there was an adulterous affair between him and Chikuba.
Rev Sikwela has not indicated whether or not he will appeal against the High Court decision to uphold the judgment.
Labels: MPs, UPND
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We won't quit govt - MMD MP Mukata
By By Kombe Chimpinde and Roy Habaalu
Thu 19 July 2012, 11:00 CAT
KEITH Mukata says he will not quit the government despite pressure from MMD president Nevers Mumba that they either relinquish their ministerial positions or face expulsion from the party.
And the nine MMD members of parliament threatened with expulsion for accepting ministerial positions had the blessings of Rupiah Banda, according to close sources. Meanwhile, Katuba member of parliament Dr Patrick Chikusu says threats of expulsion on them were misplaced.
Mukata, who is Chilanga MMD member of parliament and Deputy Minister of Commerce , said those who had issues with the appointing authority must deal with them separately and not use him as a pawn.
He said in an interview that Mumba was making a mistake by deciding to expel him and his colleagues for accepting ministerial positions in the current government.
Mukata vowed that he would not resign as deputy minister and that he would still remain in the party.
"The law is on our side, the people of Zambia who elected us, are on our side, they have no problem with us serving in government," he said.
Mukata said the MMD had appointed people from other parties into government when they were in power.
"I do not see why the practice suddenly became wrong under Pastor Mumba. I will not be twitched around like a yoyo around. I come from a very professional background. I was supposed to be a judge in 2010. I don't think I joined politics to be a cadre or whatever it is," he said.
"I respect my club MMD and I have not done anything wrong in the MMD. Those that that have issues with President Michael Sata should deal with them."
Mukata said serving in the government was not a job for him but a service.
"Serving as a minister for me is not a job if that is what they think, it is a service, maybe for other people. I probably used to make much more money in my law practice than now. When I travel (as deputy minister), I have to supplement the travel with my own money. If it were a job, I should not be running projects in my constituency," Mukata said.
He said he was being driven in more expensive cars during his law practice than now when he was in the government.
On claims that by Mumba that President Sata was appointing members of parliament from a party which he called corrupt, Mukata said there was no party that could claim that it was corrupt free.
"People need to separate political rhetoric and games from realism. Corruption starts with an individual, that is when it permeates a system..." said Mukata.
And Dr Chikusu, who is serving as health deputy minister, said the former ruling party would sink if the nine members of parliament choose to resign from the MMD.
"He (Mumba) wants by-elections when there people out there who are dying who need to go the hospitals, there is poverty yet we are busy pulling each other over things like that. For me that's my concern. If it is going to be a democracy for fixing each other, then we are not ready for it," he said.
"I have gone through the (party) constitution and I have not found anywhere where it says when you are given a position in government, you have to be expelled. The PLC (Parliamentary Liaison Committee) cannot override the Constitution," said Dr Chikusu.
Meanwhile, sources within MMD's National Executive Committee (NEC) said Banda felt undermined when his successor, Mumba, announced that those who had accepted ministerial positions in the government should consider themselves expelled.
The sources said the decision to expel legitimately elected members of parliament was working against Mumba because he had not been consistent himself and lacked morality on the issue.
"The mere fact that all of them consulted RB (Rupiah Banda) before they accepted those ministerial positions, they find it very deceitful that the party can turn around and ask them to choose between expulsion and resigning from government and they feel that they have a very strong case to get protection from the courts, from the Speaker and I think they have a lot of public sympathy," they sources said.
They said the party was existing because of its members of parliament and frustrating a few would lead to its demise.
Another source said Mumba had difficulties rescinding his decision over threats of expulsion on the nine MMD members of parliament in government because he would be regarded as a coward.
"We cannot run away from the fact that there is a battle for the soul of the MMD and the interest groups are many. There are those who founded MMD from inception and fell out of the way out of principle and they would like to reclaim the soul of the party. And there are those who tried to exercise their democratic rights within the party and they got expelled," said the sources.
"All those are competing interest groups who are a very, very strong voice and reasonable voice I must say because for them there is no immediate benefit that can accrue to them except that they would like a political landscape that sticks back to the aspiration of the Zambian people emanating from the initial ideas of the MMD."
Labels: MMD, MPs, PF
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Planned expulsion of mps splits mmd
By Allan Mulenga, Mukosha Funga and Roy Habaalu
Tue 17 July 2012, 15:10 CAT
DIVISIONS have emerged in the MMD with some NEC members saying they were not consulted on the decision to expel MPs that had accepted ministerial positions in the government.
And MMD president Nevers Mumba yesterday said PF should have consulted MMD over members of parliament going to serve in government.
Meanwhile Mumba in the morning held a closed-door meeting at Falls Way Apartments in Lusaka where he pleaded with some deputy ministers to relinquish their ministerial positions.
Some National Executive Committee sources said the nine members of parliament that had been threatened with expulsion were not given a chance to exculpate themselves.
"It's just a small group of people that want someone to be speaking for them and gain sympathy for the cases they are facing in the courts of law...and you know our president Nevers doesn't seem to realise that they are using him to defend the corrupt when the government summons them to answer to charges of corruption," sources said.
"What people don't know is that the party in its current form is divided. Some of us NEC members feel Mumba is not consulting us on many decisions and that he's always bulldozing. He never gave those MPs chance to be heard jut because he was informed that they are spying for PF. He wakes up and expels people he found."
And sources disclosed that Mumba's quest to garner support from NEC members continued after he met Elijah Muchima, who is Ikelengi MMD member of parliament and deputy minister of lands to convince him to relinquish his deputy ministerial position.
"Yes, Mumba today in the morning had a fruitful meeting where he discussed with Muchima over his continued alignment with the PF government. It is expected that he Muchima will make a decision as to whether to continue serving in government or not. Muchima is just one among many meeting Mumba," said the NEC source.
And when contacted for a comment, Muchima's secretary at the ministry responded: "He is in a meeting with some government officials. Try to call him later in the day."
And in an interview yesterday, Mumba said the PF should have consulted the MMD before getting its members because what they did was like they were independent members of parliament.
"The act of PF coming to get members from MMD without consulting its leadership entails they are independent members of parliament. That is our argument. They should have consulted with us to dialogue with the leadership," he said.
Mumba said if PF needed help, they should have come in a spirit of dialogue.
"If they say they need help, they should have come to us in a spirit of dialogue, with the leaders and if they did this, who would have stopped the dialogue?" he asked.
Mumba said they were not looking for by-elections as a party.
Mumba added that FDD president Edith Nawakwi should refrain from using the media to dialogue with him and instead speak to him in person.
"If Nawakwi wants to tell me something, she knows my number. We are both in the opposition. She can come and find out from me. I'm not obliged to give Nawakwi the pleasure of commenting but I will let her say whatever she wants to say. But I would rather she talks to me in person if she has anything to say," she said.
On Sunday, Nawakwi advised Mumba against expelling his members of parliament serving in government to avoid costly by-elections.
Meanwhile, Vice-President Guy Scott said MMD would fail to expel its members who were appointed as deputy ministers because they were elected members of parliament and the President had the right to select ministers from any party.
"We tried to expel our rebels in PF when we were in opposition for collaborating with MMD and we failed. So I would expect the MMD also to fail. We put up legal challenge after legal challenge and we failed. They have their right, they are elected members of parliament. Nevers Mumba himself was not an MMD member of parliament, he was in NCC when he was chosen to be vice-president," he said.
"Lots of people, our own Chimbaka was chosen to be a minister of Luapula Province even though he was a PF member. So what are they complaining about? If they are expelled, I expect them to go to court. In Zambia everyone goes to court. It is national hobby."Labels: MMD, MPs, PF
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Planned expulsion of mps splits mmd
By Allan Mulenga, Mukosha Funga and Roy Habaalu
Tue 17 July 2012, 15:10 CAT
DIVISIONS have emerged in the MMD with some NEC members saying they were not consulted on the decision to expel MPs that had accepted ministerial positions in the government. And MMD president Nevers Mumba yesterday said PF should have consulted MMD over members of parliament going to serve in government.
Meanwhile Mumba in the morning held a closed-door meeting at Falls Way Apartments in Lusaka where he pleaded with some deputy ministers to relinquish their ministerial positions.
Some National Executive Committee sources said the nine members of parliament that had been threatened with expulsion were not given a chance to exculpate themselves.
"It's just a small group of people that want someone to be speaking for them and gain sympathy for the cases they are facing in the courts of law...and you know our president Nevers doesn't seem to realise that they are using him to defend the corrupt when the government summons them to answer to charges of corruption," sources said.
"What people don't know is that the party in its current form is divided. Some of us NEC members feel Mumba is not consulting us on many decisions and that he's always bulldozing. He never gave those MPs chance to be heard jut because he was informed that they are spying for PF. He wakes up and expels people he found."
And sources disclosed that Mumba's quest to garner support from NEC members continued after he met Elijah Muchima, who is Ikelengi MMD member of parliament and deputy minister of lands to convince him to relinquish his deputy ministerial position.
"Yes, Mumba today in the morning had a fruitful meeting where he discussed with Muchima over his continued alignment with the PF government. It is expected that he Muchima will make a decision as to whether to continue serving in government or not. Muchima is just one among many meeting Mumba," said the NEC source.
And when contacted for a comment, Muchima's secretary at the ministry responded: "He is in a meeting with some government officials. Try to call him later in the day."
And in an interview yesterday, Mumba said the PF should have consulted the MMD before getting its members because what they did was like they were independent members of parliament.
"The act of PF coming to get members from MMD without consulting its leadership entails they are independent members of parliament. That is our argument. They should have consulted with us to dialogue with the leadership," he said.
Mumba said if PF needed help, they should have come in a spirit of dialogue.
"If they say they need help, they should have come to us in a spirit of dialogue, with the leaders and if they did this, who would have stopped the dialogue?" he asked.
Mumba said they were not looking for by-elections as a party.
Mumba added that FDD president Edith Nawakwi should refrain from using the media to dialogue with him and instead speak to him in person.
"If Nawakwi wants to tell me something, she knows my number. We are both in the opposition. She can come and find out from me. I'm not obliged to give Nawakwi the pleasure of commenting but I will let her say whatever she wants to say. But I would rather she talks to me in person if she has anything to say," she said.
On Sunday, Nawakwi advised Mumba against expelling his members of parliament serving in government to avoid costly by-elections.
Meanwhile, Vice-President Guy Scott said MMD would fail to expel its members who were appointed as deputy ministers because they were elected members of parliament and the President had the right to select ministers from any party.
"We tried to expel our rebels in PF when we were in opposition for collaborating with MMD and we failed. So I would expect the MMD also to fail. We put up legal challenge after legal challenge and we failed. They have their right, they are elected members of parliament. Nevers Mumba himself was not an MMD member of parliament, he was in NCC when he was chosen to be vice-president," he said.
"Lots of people, our own Chimbaka was chosen to be a minister of Luapula Province even though he was a PF member. So what are they complaining about? If they are expelled, I expect them to go to court. In Zambia everyone goes to court. It is national hobby."Labels: MMD, MPs, NEC, NEVERS MUMBA
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Expel them, we'll adopt them - PF
By Kombe Chimpinde and Allan Mulenga
Sat 14 July 2012, 16:00 CAT
WYNTER Kabimba says the PF will adopt MMD members of parliament who have been given positions in government if they wish to re-contest their seats. And MMD president Nevers Mumba says he will not change the party's position to expel members who will align themselves with the PF.
Meanwhile, veteran politician and MMD founder member Vernon Mwaanga has resigned from the MMD National Executive Committee (NEC).
In an interview yesterday, Kabimba, who is PF secretary general, mocked Mumba that the nine members of parliament were "free gifts" and MMD would do well to hand them over to PF.
"For us, if MMD decides to expel them on account that they took positions in the government, they will all be adopted in their constituencies. In fact they would have handed them over to us. I will even send a 'thank you' note to Mr. Nevers Mumba for giving me free gifts as PF. I will be very happy with that decision to expel MMD members," he said.
Kabimba said President Michael Sata had a prerogative under the Constitution to appoint any citizen to serve the government.
"If the President is appointing the respective members of parliament to join PF as members of PF, that is a different thing. The President has a prerogative under the Constitution to appoint any citizen of Zambia to serve the government of the Republic of Zambia; not to serve Michael Sata, but to serve the people of this country," he said.
Kabimba said he expected Mumba to appreciate the situation involving his members of parliament because late president Levy Mwanawasa appointed him when he was still a member of the National Christian Coalition.
"The honourable members of parliament that have been appointed by the President are not serving an individual. They are serving the nation and we expect Mr. Mumba himself, who had jumped from his political party to become vice-president, to be able to appreciate this situation. Mr. Mumba himself was appointed from his small party NCC to become vice-president of this country.
Did the late president Mwanawasa consult his members? He just jumped from NCC into MMD and became vice-president. What has changed now?" asked Kabimba.
Yesterday, Mumba announced at a media briefing that the nine that had been offered ministerial positions in government were considered expelled by the party until they resign from their ministerial posts.
He said the MMD had declared a political war against President Sata regardless of the cost.
"Considering the obvious agenda of the PF government to diminish the opposition both in Parliament and outside, the party has decided to fight for democracy," Mumba said.
"We did not start this war and we don't want it, but PF has declared war on democracy. Although we don't like this war, we are ready to fight until we win. We have been provoked, our members have been brutally hunted to belong to the PF government. In view of this assault on democracy, the MMD has decided to protect itself."
Mumba said the action was necessitated after NEC and other MMD members of parliament, who were present at the briefing, invoked the resolution of the Parliamentary Liaison Committee made earlier.
On Thursday, well placed-sources within the MMD said that the party had decided to give a 10- day ultimatum to the affected members of parliament to relinquish their ministerial posts or face expulsion.
"I wish to announce that our party has decided to invoke the resolution of the PLC Parliamentary Liaison Committee which was held immediately after losing the 2011 election, that state: 'Any MMD member of parliament who accepts a ministerial job from the PF government ceases to be a member of the MMD party and a letter of expulsion shall be sent and the National Assembly shall inform the Speaker accordingly'," he explained.
"Our only tools for survival are discipline and unity. As president, I would rather have 20 disciplined and dedicated MPs than 80 who are not sure where they stand."
Mumba said it was not the wish of the party to declare costly by-elections.
"So we are joining the jungle business with him so that when he rolls on the right, we roll on the left and I think that it is important you defend your democracy," he vowed.
"I wish to announce that yesterday I wrote a letter to the President raising deep concern on his adamant desire and attempt to destroy the opposition and create one party-dictatorship. I feel greatly grieved.
The agenda of the President and the PF government has now been exposed as that of wishing to destroy the MMD."
And MMD chairperson for elections Gabriel Namulambe, who was directed to start preparing for elections by Mumba, explained that the decisive action taken by the MMD was aimed at disciplining erring members.
"For us, it doesn't matter whether we lose the elections or not. What is important is to have loyal and disciplined members. If a person insults where he is feeding from or is coming from, then I don't think it is necessary to have that person," he said.
And MMD Luampa member of parliament and North Western province minister Josephine Limaata, who is one of the affected members, said she would not resign from government but contest her expulsion in the courts of law.
During the same briefing, Mumba announced that Mwaanga, the former parliamentary chief whip, who will officially resign on August 1, 2012 said he was retiring from NEC and active politics to give chance to the young people within the MMD.
Labels: MMD, MPs, PF
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MPs and our expectations
By The Post
Thu 07 June 2012, 13:25 CAT
OUR members of parliament promised more during the election campaigns and more is expected of them now. Most of our members of parliament promised more than they will be able to give or to deliver and they are starting to be uncomfortable with the people. Reality is starting to dawn on some of our members of parliament who promised their constituents heaven but today, they are not even able to deliver purgatory. But there is no need to fear the people and run away from them. What is needed is to explain the state of things and the challenges they are facing in delivering on their promises.
The people will understand. As Uruguayan freedom fighter José Gervasio Artigas once observed, with the truth, you don't offend or fear. It is a big mistake to run away from one's constituents and still expect to retain a measure of respect or credibility from them.
It is important to explain the difficulties one is facing. And as Amilcar Cabral taught us, "hide nothing from the masses of our people. Tell no lies. Expose lies whenever they are told. Mask no difficulties, mistakes, failures. Claim no easy victories".
Every responsible member of parliament must have the courage of his or her responsibilities, exacting from others proper respect for his or her work and properly respecting the work of others.
The expectations of some of the constituents are impossible to meet. It is not possible for a member of parliament to personally talk to all those who voted for him or her. Doing so will mean not doing anything else at all. This is not the rational way to run a parliamentary constituency.
Some people have gone as far as expecting their member of parliament to attend every funeral in the constituency and provide a coffin, food and firewood. Where is the poor member of parliament going to get the money to do this? The salary or allowance of a member of parliament is well-known to all. And being a member of parliament is not a full-time job. One has to still do something else to earn a living.
Where is the time going to come from for the other responsibilities a member of parliament has if all his or her time is spent on attending to phone calls from the constituency, funerals in the constituency and other numerous problems individual members of the constituency may face? We think too much is being asked of our members of parliament to deliver. We are actually breaking people. There is need to be clear about what a member of parliament is to his or her constituency.
A member of parliament has no obligation to finance funerals and other personal requirements of his or her constituents. The basic or fundamental responsibility of a member of parliament is that of legislating, of making laws and of holding the executive accountable. Development projects in the constituency are a responsibility of government and government officials.
A member of parliament is not a manager of development projects. Of course, a member of parliament participates heavily in the decisions of how resources should be allocated in the country. And it is the duty of the member of parliament to fully understand the needs of his or her constituency, articulate them and transmit them to the Executive.
This means that a member of parliament has to fully understand what is going on in his or her constituency and what the needs of his or her constituents are. And to truly lead one's people, one must also truly know them. It is not easy to lead people one does not understand.
A member of parliament should not be swayed by the ephemeral and superficial values being propagated by other people but his or her decisions should be based on a visceral understanding of his or her constituents and their needs.
To understand the needs of one's constituents, one needs to spend more time with them and communicate with them. It is said that to govern is to communicate. But we know that it is not possible for a member of parliament to reach every member of his constituency, or to have the opportunity to see, much less talk with every constituent in person.
We know that our people have many urgent needs and most of these are increasingly being pushed on their members of parliament to address. Those who are not able to pay the school fees of their children are often turning to their members of parliament for help. Some even want their members of parliament to buy the school uniforms of their children.
But what they are forgetting is that some of these members of parliament are humble people like them who have just been given the privilege of representing them in Parliament. They are not rich people with much money to spare. They are also struggling, like them, to meet the basic needs of their families. This attitude towards our members of parliament needs to change.
If we don't change our approach, the quality of members of parliament will continue to decline because honest people will not offer themselves for that type of leadership. Only crooks, liars will be contesting parliamentary elections because they have no problems telling lies and promising all sorts of things which they know very well that they will not be able to deliver.
And after elections, they will simply disappear, only to be seen at the next elections with sacks of money and other goods to use in bribing the electorate so that they can be re-elected. Honest people can't do this and they will simply just stay away from contesting elections.
What we should be seeking is genuine democracy in which our elected representatives are our servants and not masters. If we expect our members of parliament to look after us like we are their children, then we are asking them to be our masters.
What we should be looking for are leaders who are willing to listen to the people, who respect the people and are willing to work for the welfare of all the people. We are not seeking those who can be Father Christmas to be our representatives. What we are seeking are honest people who are able to use their political offices for the achievement of the common good.
What we are looking for are members of parliament who are able to exercise stewardship and uphold the common good. A person elected to serve as a member of parliament must remember that he or she is simply a servant or steward entrusted to offer humble service to others as opposed to owning power or the people he or she is serving.
There is need for members of parliament to be close to their constituencies. But there is also a need for us not to be over-bearing on our members of parliament.
They are not there to provide us, from their own pockets, with the daily necessities of life. This needs to be well-understood or we will never have a member of parliament who meets our expectations.
Labels: MPs, PF
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Party member urges PF MPs not to relax
By Henry Sinyangwe
Thu 07 June 2012, 13:23 CAT
PF members of parliament have been urged not to relax following their victory in last year's election but work at delivering promises made during campaigns. Abel Musonda, a member of the PF, said it was dangerous for the PF members of parliament to be detached from their constituents as this would risk their re-election in the next general elections in 2016.
"I think we have relaxed as a party. But you know, this party we do not need to relax, we need to fight on until 2016," Musonda said.
"But if we relax now, our opponents will take advantage of it and anything is possible, we could lose the elections."
He said some members of parliament had been avoiding phone calls from constituency leaders, and warned that such tendencies could completely detach them from the people that elected them into offices they hold.
"The problem that we have is our area members of parliament, they have stopped visiting and picking up phone calls. We have a leadership in Luapula headed by Honourable Kennedy Sakeni and whenever you call just to tell them about something, about what is happening in Luapula, they are not picking up the phone. I don't know whether they think we want to solicit for jobs or what and you know, you can't work like that," Musonda said.
He said various communities in the country could only develop if leaders communicated with the people they represent.
"For us to move on as PF and as a party in government, we need to communicate with the grassroots, with each other, but we are having a problem when we try to communicate to these people," Musonda said.
He also called for the rehabilitation of the Chiengi-Luchinda and Kashikishi-Luchinda roads as they were in a bad state.
"…The votes we got from Chiengi are as the result of what we promised that once we form government we are going to tar the roads in the area. They are anxiously waiting for these developments," said Musonda.
Labels: MPs, PF
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Who of our MPs support corruption?
By The Post
Fri 09 Mar. 2012, 12:00 CAT
ELECTION campaign promises need to be honoured. Not honouring election campaign promises is tantamount to obtaining one's entry into public office by false pretences. However, unlike in obtaining goods by false pretences, there is no law that forces one to honour election campaign promises. Honouring election campaign promises is simply a matter of honour and integrity.
It is therefore always pleasing to see politicians honour their election campaign promises. Michael Sata and the PF promised to bring back the offence of abuse of office in their election campaigns. This is a move that may help increase their standing in the eyes of the Zambian people.
Of course, they still have many challenges with other election promises they had made. For instance, they seem to have difficulties to honour their election campaign promise to restore the Barotse Agreement of 1964.
Of course, not every election campaign promise is fulfilled. But when there is a departure from, when there is inability to deliver election campaign promises, the electorate should be informed and explanations should be made. Circumstances change, many things change every day, sometimes making it impossible for one to do as he had wished the previous day.
The bringing back of the offence of abuse of office will help Michael and his government a lot in the fight against corruption. It will also protect the members of this government from temptations of corruption that emanate from the powers vested in the many offices of government.
It is very easy to abuse power if there are no restrictions on its exercise. The abuse of office offence in our Anti Corruption Commission Act protects office holders from getting carried away with powers vested in the offices they hold.
This law will also help to serve as a reminder to those who hold public office that they are simply servants or stewards entrusted to offer humble service to others as opposed to owning the public resources they are managing.
Every asset, every kwacha that is owned by the government belongs to the people and not to the government office bearers. Those who hold public offices are further reminded that they are accountable to the people who own the resources of government, the ultimate employers of all those who earn a salary from holding public office.
With this law back, it will be much easier to catch those who try to cheat or rape the nation. This law will help us not to allow the desire to serve oneself to bloom once again under the fair mask of the desire to serve the common good.
Our people are poor today not because their country has no resources, but simply because those they have from time to time entrusted with the management of their affairs have not acted with sufficient honour and integrity, they have mismanaged, misused, misapplied, misappropriated public resources.
To move this country forward, and to lift the great majority of our people out of poverty, will require prudent and honest utilisation of our country's resources. Yes, we don't have much, we are a poor country.
But if the little that we have is managed efficiently, effectively and in an orderly manner, the problems of our people will lessen and more and more of our people will be able to meet their daily basic needs necessary for a decent human life, fundamental needs will increasingly become satisfied and each individual will have adequate resources to survive, to develop and thrive.
This law gives the government a greater possibility of ensuring that money meant for the provision of the necessary services to our people will be efficiently utilised. Money meant for hospitals and medicines will not be stolen the way it was being stolen under the previous regime.
More and better quality schools will be built from the money so allocated because it will not end up in private pockets the way it was ending up under the previous regime. With limited possibility for abuse of office, even our road infrastructure will improve. And with these improvements, more jobs will be created. And with more jobs created, there will be more money in the pockets of our people in line with the PF election campaign promises.
We therefore urge the MMD and their opposition allies, the UPND, to subordinate their immediate political expediencies to the interests of the nation and of the great majority of our people and support this Bill that the PF government has tabled before Parliament.
Moreover, not very long ago, the UPND opposed the removal of the offence of abuse of office from our Anti Corruption Commission Act. This was a principled position that they need to maintain. And principles should never be traded on the altar of political expedience.
Political expedience will require them to oppose this Bill if the MMD opposes it. A principled position will require them to oppose their political allies on this issue. For the great majority of the MMD members of parliament, the removal of the abuse of office offence from our Anti Corruption Commission Act was foisted on them by a crooked, corrupt and ruthless clique of Rupiah Banda and George Kunda that had come to dominate their party and had to get its way at all times.
They have more freedom now to think and act freely. There is no good reason for them today to oppose the re-introduction of that law that should have never been removed from our laws in the first place. Even for George himself, it will be prudent to change his position and not oppose the re-introduction of this law.
We all now know very well why George and his friends had removed this law in the first place. It was to protect themselves from being made accountable for the rampant abuses of the public offices they were occupying. They will not be able to achieve this and the only sensible thing left for them is to do something that will win them some public respect.
Protecting corruption and abuses will not win them any public support or sympathy - they will instead just be isolating themselves further from the masses of our people.
We therefore expect no opposition to this Bill from all the representatives of our people.
And it will be very interesting to see where each one of our representatives in that House stands on this issue, and which of our members of parliament support corruption.
Labels: CORRUPTION, MICHAEL SATA, MPs
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MMD threatens to expel pro-PF MPs
By Bright Mukwasa
Thu 23 Feb. 2012, 12:00 CAT
THE MMD has threatened some of its members of parliament with expulsion from the party for voting with PF over the election of the Speaker of the National Assembly Dr Patrick Matibini and for supporting the ratification of Director of Public Prosecutions Mutembo Nchito.
According to an internal memo dated 22 December, 2011 obtained yesterday addressed to all members of parliament and signed by MMD national secretary Major Richard Kachingwe, the party had observed with disbelief the treacherous conduct of some of its members of parliament against the very principles of the party that sponsored them.
"It has now been decided forthwith that failing to adhere to an agreed party position with the leader of the opposition and the MMD Whip shall constitute a serious offence under our party disciplinary regulations and may result in expulsion from the party, "read the letter in part.
"You are therefore to take heed of this timely warning."
According to inside sources, the memo was prompted by the voting pattern exhibited by most new MMD parliamentarians who were being perceived as pro-PF.
The source said the party got incensed after it failed to marshal the numbers during the voting for Speaker of National Assembly despite the scrutiny that it subjected members of the opposition to.
"Most new members were upset and very disappointed with the memo. You know NEC wants to control our voting by threats but most members have refused to bend. We have said we shall support all progressive policies of the PF," one MMD member of parliament said.
"And those that have been voting for PF in the House have suffered isolation, that is why even when they go for their petitions, no senior member of the party turns up to support them. We pay K1million as contribution to the running of the secretariat and this is what we get. Some of us have been paying petition legal fees out of our pockets."
The source said they were told that the manner they debated in parliament was like they did not represent an opposition political party.
Labels: MMD, MPs, PF
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