And Mr Ntwewe says the Speaker should have taken the current political situation in the country before mating out the harshest possible punishment as the move adds to the bad picture that is being painted about the country’s democracy and also qualify’s the allegation that Zambia as been turned into a dictatorial state.
Mr Ntwewe said in as much as the MPs deserved punishment for boycotting the official opening of parliament and the presidential address it was important to note that 30days was too much hence the move to seek judicial review was commendable.
He said the actions of the Speaker will stifle debate in the house .
“Upon critical perusal of the parliamentary standing orders no 72 which provides for punishment to be mated out we note with sadness that the speaker has mated out the harshest punishment possible to an erlring MP.
“We note that order No 72 provides three avenues, No 1 it provides 7day suspension, No2 it provides for the 14day suspension and 3 it provides for the 30 day suspension however we note that the speaker has chosen the harshest punishment and this is not good for democracy because we believe that MPs should be in parliament to debate and formulate bills that will have a positive bearing on the lives of people.
“In this situation we want to believe that the move is not good for our country’s democracy because the debate in parliament is going to be seriously compromised as it will be MPs from the governing party and if they are only MPs from the governing party that does not paint a good picture about our country,” he said.
Further Mr Ntwewe said the Speaker should have put into consideration current political situation in the country.
He wondered what the international community will say about Zambia’s democracy when they read that MPs from the opposition have been suspended while their leader is incarcerated.
“There should have been some humanity exercised when the speaker was mating out his punishment. The reason why we are talking about humanity or Ubuntu is that, the country right now is engulfed in serious political debate and there have been so much political tension from the 2016 election that Zambia is sliding in terms of democracy and respect for human rights and so the speaker should have taken a number of facts into account before mating out such kind of punishment.
“One has to take cognizant of the fact that the UPND MPs will be suspended while their leader is in incarcerated so what does that say about the country to the person who is reading about it out there? They will conclude that the country has indeed sliden into dictatorship,” he said.
On Tuesday Speaker of the National Assembly Patrick Matibin suspended 48 UPND MPs as punishment for missing the presidential address to parliament.
The UPND through their Chairman for Legal Affairs Jack Mwiimbu said the will seek a judicial review challenge the decision by the Speaker.
You are right big man.
Mushota dont say anything please
Why should one blame the speaker instead of blaming the ones who were wrong? so in this country you can do anything and the law can be applied considering the political party were you belong.. if u are punished and you are UPND it is dictatorship, if you are PF it is fair and if you are a mare citizen it is punishment.
Discipline is good. It ensures order. So it’s necessary that the MPs be disciplined. How, what Nthewewe is saying it’s true. The opposition leader is jailed, the opposition MPs are suspended, Mmembe is going round the world crying lack of press freedom, the Catholic Bishops think the Government hired guns are after them and much more. The Speaker should have shown restraint. It’s too much happening at time.
Mushota you have a PhD. I have said that for you so do not say anything anymore please
Thanks
(and I have said thanks for you so no need to come and say anything)
One more thing you were going to say: ‘This YALI man is disillusioned’
Mushota don’t even bother posting anything, I have done it all for you.
Ba Yali playing to the song of their paymaster. Your paymaster has enough on their plate with Donald trump. This is Zambia and have nothing to do with what others think after all that is the way the world operates.
Zambian new makers….
Why should humanity be shown to UPND MPs who break parliamentary rules when no humanity is shown to poor and deprived Zambians who break laws and are put behind bars? Does Ntewewe honestly think a lighter sentence was going to deter these MPs from continuing on the lone road to hell they have decided to take? Ba Ntewewe, buy yourself some nshima from nearby Northmead market, eat and think through again what you are saying.
Besides, the past tense of “slide” is not “sliden” but “slid”.
So, what punishment did this speaker give to Kaingu when he tore President Sata’s parliamentary speech in full view of the pubic. Not only did he tear up the speech, he was also heard cursing the document. I am of the belief that this speaker is partizan.
You do not know that he apologized? UPND put up a veiled apology and continued with their ways. You seriously want the Speaker to treat them with kid gloves?
PF International vuvuzelas where are you with your fake PhDs? Can you counter this article that gives the true reflection of your supreme leader?
This is just nonsense – the foolish MPs wanted this so that they cry wolf to the international community. It will not you and them anywhere. Do you think the nation cares whether these time wasters are in Parliament or not?
Kaminamisa appointed journalist – PF vuvuzelas as em……… as bloggers.
Fact is, UPND MPs have not walked out of parliament once. They had done this before and apologised about it and promised not to do it again. We are talking here about repeat offenders!!! So, the speaker’s punishment is not extreme. It was going to be so, if the MPs were doing it for the first time. A stop must be put to this or else parliament will be turned into a circus? Can Ntewewe imagine adults and highly educated men and women like Professor Lungwangwa and Dr. Situmbeko Musokotwane doing what they did more that once with the education and professional experience they have. Can such men and women inspire young people with their behaviour?
Your highly educated colleagues threw away their education a long time ago. They are now just headless followers.
Some comment make sad reading indeed and leave one to wonder what form of education or reading culture we have as Zambians. Is there any patriotism and to what extent are we willing to defend what is true.
It can’t just be blind followers but true poverty of the mind. Thumbs up YALI
YALI, am disappointed your reasoning on the timing of the punishment is ridiculous please come up with a better reason. Also on the punishment. This is the second time, they in fact deserve 6 months. Andrew sure and you say that is dictatorship? My foot…… These cows have dented the image of this country. Who knows what they will do next and when the Law catches up with them -Dictatorship . If ever these cows form Government God knows how they will govern this country. It will be totally ungovernable I warn them.
These cows led by Jack Preliminary Mwiimbu are abusing the courts, Judges chase them please, so that they go crying naked to Trump to be heard.
Section 28 of the National Assembly (Powers and Privileges) Act, Chapter 12 of the Laws of Zambia, which provides for disciplinary powers of the Assembly provides as follows:
(1) Where a member is found to have committed a contempt of the Assembly, whether specified in section nineteen or otherwise, the Speaker, the Committee on Privileges or a select committee appointed under subsection (6) may impose one or more of the following penalties:
(a) a formal warning; (b) and admonition; (c) a reprimand; and (d) an order directing a member to apologise to the Assembly in a manner determined by the Assembly.
(2) Where a member is found to have committed contempt of the Assembly of a serious nature and none of the other penalties are sufficient for the contempt by the member, the Speaker…
Cont’d
(2) Where a member is found to have committed contempt of the Assembly of a serious nature and none of the other penalties are sufficient for the contempt by the member, the Speaker shall, on resolution of the Assembly, suspend the member from the Assembly for a period not exceeding thirty days.
So what are this YALI chap and UPND Cadres talking about?
IllSayWhatIWant,
Thanks for posting the Section 28 of the National Assembly (Powers and Privileges) Act, Chapter 12 of the Laws of Zambia. The disturbing tendency I have observed is that YALI, UPND, and other like-minded entities and individuals want the law to be applied selectively. Why should the UPND MPs get away with wrong doing when the law unambiguously prescribes punishment for a breach of parliamentary etiquette? Are these UPND MPs above the law?
Fail to attended the opening the Parliament is not contempt when it is an act of protest. The British MPs can do it and so can other commonwealth countries… Protest are part of Democracy…
The speaker position is challengeable in courts. We need best law for our country
Is this Britain baba
My friend there is no dictatorship what so ever. If you are able to follow toilet rules by flushing after use why can’t you do the same in parliament? There is no one special. Had it been another opposition party other than UPND this issue was not even going to make headlines. It is simple, you break the rules; you get the fine.
IllSayWhatIWant,
Thanks for posting the Section 28 of the National Assembly (Powers and Privileges) Act, Chapter 12 of the Laws of Zambia. The disturbing tendency I have observed is that YALI, UPND, and other like-minded entities and individuals want the law to be applied selectively. Why should the UPND MPs get away with wrong doing when the law unambiguously prescribes punishment for a breach of parliamentary etiquette? Are these UPND MPs above the law?
Punish the offenders!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Andrew Ntewewe, you are disappointing. I thought as a civic organisation, you take time to study laws of Zambia before using the pathetic route of parading yourself in the media for expediency. If a blogger 12: Isay can avail such crucial information and educate the nation before your organisation does, what good is your organisation??? Really disappointing, to call yourselves young African leaders, I don’t believe so!!!
@Analyser, u av made my day coz my ribs almost cracked due 2 the laughter u av caused, nice one munyinane and well spoken pantu mushota alichilamo fye na PHD yakwe mweeee!!!!