TONGA GIVES POLICE 48 HRS ULTIMATUM

Wed, 21 Feb 2018 12:57:58 +0000

By MUKOSELA KASALWE

KABWE Central Member of Parliament, Tutwa Ngulube, yesterday questioned Higher Education Minister, Professor Nkandu Luo’s silence in Parliament over the closed three public universities.

Mr Ngulube who was given the floor while Energy Minister Matthews Nkhuwa was responding to a question for oral answer from Mazabuka Central MP Gary Nkombo,  jokingly said he wanted to be the first lawmaker to stand on a point of order in the House this year.

Mr Ngulube questioned Professor Luo on why she was silent when the University of Zambia (UNZA), Nkrumah and the Copperbelt University had remained closed when the nation was interested to know about the situation.

He said the universities were being sponsored by the tax payers’ money and sought a response from the minister on the matter.

“Mr Speaker I want to find whether the Minister of Higher Education is in order to remain quiet when all the public universities are closed and not inform the nation,” he said.

The lawmaker said he also wanted to find out why all Nkrumah university lecturers were fired.

In his ruling Speaker of the National Assembly Patrick Matibini guided Mr Ngulube to phrase his question in written form.

Dr Matibini said he hoped the rising on a point of order by Mr Ngulube was not based on the motivation that he would be the first MP to do so this year.

Meanwhile, nominated MP Mumbi Phiri was joyfully received in the House when she was escorted by PF Luangeni MP Charles Zulu and Sioma Independent MP Mbolowa Sibulwa to the entrance.

Ms. Phiri later took oath before the Speaker and took her sit at the back bench.