Opposition United Party for National Development (UPND) Members of Parliament (MPs) have again walked out of the house protesting the restoration of the Constitution Amendment bill number 10 of 2019, also known as bill 10.
This happened in parliament today, shortly after Minister of Justice Given Lubinda presented the bill for consideration.
ZANIS reports that Leader of the opposition in parliament Jack Mwiimbu led the UPND legislators as they stormed out of parliament.
But three of its members namely Teddy Kasonso of Solwezi West, his Nalikwanda counterpart Geoffrey Lungwangwa and Senanga’s Mulowa Mukubuta, as well as National Democratic Congress (NDC) Roan Member of parliament, Joseph Chishala, defied the protest and opted to remain in the house.
However, the Minister continued his presentation in the absence of the opposition parliamentarians.
Mr Lubinda lamented that the behaviour and integrity of the UPND MPs, shall be judged by the Zambian people.
Meanwhile, Mr Lubinda, who is PF Kabwata parliamentarian, has said Cabinet rejected the proposal of the introduction of deputy ministers.
Mr Lubinda has consistently said it was government’s intention to see to it that all the lacunas in the amended constitution of 2016 are tabled in Parliament.
He also announced the retention on the payroll for retired civil servants among other articles that were amended.
UPND Nalikwanda MP Geoffrey Lungwangwa who contributed to the debate, said strengthening institutions in the country is vital because Zambia is going through a young constitutional democracy.
In his submission to the debate, Professor Lungwangwa said Zambia needs a president wholly accepted in the nation through a 50 + 1 percent vote.
By press time, the parliamentarians largely from the executive were still debating Bill 10 amendment.
The Zambian National Assembly is composed of 89 PF MPs, UPND (58) MMD (4), 14 independent law makers and 1 from FDD bringing the total number to 166 members.
The constitutional amendment Bill 10, requires to garner a minimum two thirds majority to enable it pass.
The Constitution Amendment Bill 2019, also known as Bill no.10, has become an emotive issue with some sections of society advocating for its withdrawal.
Next time they will walk out over a nice suit by honorable lusambo.these guys have got no agenda for zambia.
i feel pity for the learned honarables They just follow instructions from their life president. Ashamed by their gallant members who choose to remain. Kudo’s to you chisala for showin maturity
Let’s be realistic. Has PF not been a bully in everything? Take for example the by-elections in chilubi what did PF do to it’s opponents, and then today PF is crying because they know for sure the bill can’t pass without the opposition chipping in. Who does the bill benefit apart from the PF. The coalition govt will benefit PF because they are scared of the elections going for a rerun because PF won’t have the resources to rig an election twice, the deputy minister thing is too costly, we already barely managing in the economy and you want to heap up more costs that will require taxes to be driven up and further burden an already overburdened people. With what we are already seeing in the judiciary who would entrust monetary policies issues to cabinet when this Govt is already…
Walking out is protest. Not entertaining. Blind to the content. Just do nothings. Cowards. Lazy zealots.
Debating the piece is honorable. Honorable Lungwangwa is honorable. Telling it to the PF’s face in a come and let’s reason togetherhood. Bold and daring.
PF’s move is patriotic and progressive. Stick it out there for progressive MPs to have a go at it. A show of responsibility. Procedural maturity.
So there you have it. 3 traits.
The Cowards, ungovernables and Immatures; the most daring and reasonable; and the Progressive party.
In the end democracy also has its own ills.
The deputy minister position was abused in that the ruling party would dangle it before opposition members who they targeted to entice that they defect! Being a non-active position deputy ministers receive allowances for practically doing nothing! Now with the coalition proposal the whole idea is that it’s the only way PF could extend its stay in governing and using the small parties to get the support then reward these “partners” with deputy minister position!
Brought in Dead…..
….do the arithmetic, 2/3 of 166 is 110…
Contd: With what we are already seeing in the judiciary who would entrust monetary policies issues to cabinet when this Govt is already failing on the fiscal part of it. The DEC is compromised and elevating a failed institution like DEC is simply unnecessary. Lastly govt have shown their true colors in dealing with retirees PF would rather have a by-election than pay retirees. Mind you the money you delay to pay retirees is not your money it is their money they used to contribute monthly throughout their service and you Govt have been using their money all that time so why fail to pay when it is due huh, you thought increasing retirement age would give enough time pay people but look now what is happening.
Has bill been voted
As a Zambian, I will agree with Mr. Lubinda. I have judged the UPND as a party with enough courage to fight for the masses who the PF has no decency to listen to. It doesn’t matter how it’s been done, as long as the ultimate objective has been achieved. Thanks UPND, NDC and independents who ensured the death of a bill that was crafted on selfish motives by a visionless and desperate despot leader in order to impose himself on us.
NDC and independents remained in the house. What are you reading???
… Even 3 upnd mps remained and participated in the debate. You people are badly misinformed.
PF we are judging YOU?
Ba PF this is a vote of no confidence on your leadership of the country. Let’s break it down this way. Edgar has betrayed SATA RIP by bringing in defiled people that Sata fired and those that greatly opposed the vision of PF before ascending to govt e.g bowman whose current actions really dent the PF and Dora Siliya the loudmouth. Where is more money in your pocket, how is unemployment, how is our GDP doing, how is society today, how are we performing as a country debts wise in line with development? Our kwacha keeps crumbling, prices escalating pushing inflation upwards, interest rates are rising making it hard to borrow etc. Where did we go wrong as country? Who will fix it if not ourselves? We have leaders who don’t know when to quit or when start doing honorable things.
We went wrong as a country when we fell for the lies of sata and pf and voted them in. Now here we are today.
Good job we dont want this pointless Bill 10….but the stance of National Democratic Congress Roan MP is very strange one …I wonder what BUFFOON CK makes of it!
THERE SHOULD BE A DIFFERENCE BETWEEN ZAMBIA AND DEFUNCT ZIMBABWE.
No we actually applaud them because this will now force you to bring the bill to the people of Zambia so that their say on it will be heard. The people of Zambia now have the opportunity to air out their views and concerns which is very commendable. My advice is now take that bill back to the drawing board and let what people want be enshrined in it.
PF needs UPND more the other. Bossing around wont take us anywhere. Let us sober up and engage each other maturely.
Look at Coward Bo Lubinda talking about judgement day …really laughable ..as if Bill 10 will improve the economy…it seems PF need this Bill so much
Johnny Walker. Keep walking . even during election you should walk out of Zambia when you lose since you can’t fight for what you think is right. Only some one who has lost an argument or has no points to make walks out. Even me when I have done wrong and my wife Regina is right , and I know I have no points to make, I walk out sometimes like a baby. It is a sign of defeat. However I still go back and let her know that she is right. Upnd grow up. Kz
Zambia is blessed with PF this witchcrafts who run away from parliament.. God will forever judge them…!!!
They need two thirds of 166 which is 110. They will never get it, its a waste of time.
The numbers don’t lie batata,just subtract the 55 from 166 and then divide by 166 and make a comment
Hon. Lubinda, you had my vote twice, not this time bwana. I for one thought you had learnt the bitter way after that incidence with your cadres.In a normal society, that should have been the moment you resigned. Why do you want to remain in office after parliament has been dissolved apart from routing?
Just postpone the BID Bill to 2022!
It’s time to get real about the failing economy! Let’s have an Indaba on the Economy! Bill 10 is not a priority! It’s a mischievous distraction from more important issues! PF will pay a heavy price for neglecting the Economy! COMESA traders have lost business because of the failing Kwacha! All these are signals PF is not paying attention to! K17,000 unrebased to a USD is a disaster! After failing to pay workers’salaries and contractors, the next failure will be failure to default on debt!
Finally some remnants of democracy there.
Let those opposition who remain in the House debate. The important thing is for them to vote against the bill. Actually that is what Jack Mwimbu and his clan should do: debate, expose the fallacies and vote it down. But alas, Trible UPND has no oeiginal ideas, just a cut and paste of PF when it was in opposition, no wonder we are where we are, both PF and Trible UPND same same.
We don’t like Bill 10 , we want it discarded ASAP by
BRAVO UPND ,NDC and independents…Tomorrow walk out again.
Why is Matibini afraid to call for a vote? He keeps on deferring the proceedings.
Which independents walked out??? Are you people addicted to lies and misinformation?? It clearly states above, upnd walked out BUT 3 of its mps DIDN’T!! NDC mp didn’t also walk out. Those independents you are trying to associate with your useless party are actually PF guys who were not adopted by PF but ended up winning their seats. So, if you want to rely on watchdog, don’t complain when Bill 10 goes through….
That’s why they have been losing elections since God knows what year. They are experts at walking out and losing.then crying about it
You have been stealing elections. So, they have not been losing.
@Mayo: prove it!!
Nafuti nafuti in 2021.
Kuza feela wena Kainyo Zulu! You know the PF is being mischievous with Bill 10 and without UPND support you can’t gunner two thirds vote so why waste time like this? It’s like Chiluba trying to gerrymander the constitution to curve out a 3rd term for himself but he curved himself out into jail.
Kainyoko Zulu, munungwahao!
Typical upnd behaviour. Uncivilized lacking decorum and an embarrassment to our nation
The same mps you keep on oppressing today,you want to use them to support devil bill 10 it can’t never boss.Nalikwanda,solwezi and senenga please chase those three stupid mps ,and let aspiring candidates start campaigning into those areas.Ndc mp questionable !!! Copperbelt mps are let down .
Expel those criminals mps like says did to 22 mps who was using both hands to eat.people from those consttuncy demand for chasing those baggers .Ask greyford Monde,Dawnson kafwaya, poniso njawu and Richwell siamunane and ask them if they can make a same mistakes if they can given a chance to come back in upnd.
KZ u called for it
Seriously, how do you want people to participate now when you did not want to engage them at the beginning of the process? PF, stop this nonsense of introducing things that you yourselves know are bad and later reverse them when consequences have already been felt. You were told that the people did not like the route you took in this process and you needed to listen. Why are you surprised today? It is like you enjoy riding in failed projects.