Stop making tribal remarks, Speaker warns Mps

Mon, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000

SPEAKER of the National Assembly Dr. Patrick Matibini cautioned all Members of Parliament on Friday to desist from making tribal remarks during their debates because it has the potential to divide the nation. And Msanzala Patriotic Front (PF) Member of Parliament Peter Daka told Parliament in his maiden speech that tribalism, like corruption, was a cancer which could easily destroy the nation.

“We have seen it for ourselves, and we are still seeing it for ourselves, what tribalism has done and can do once people stop thinking: a once prosperous country is reduced to a rubble just because one tribe thinks it is more important than the other,” Mr Daka said.

Speaking shortly before he could allow Choma Central UPND Member of Parliament Cornelius Mweetwa to deliver his maiden speech, Dr. Matibini guided that making tribal remarks during debates had the potential to divide the nation. The Speaker guided immediately after Her Honour the Vice-President’s 30 minutes question time on Friday morning. Dr. Matibini directed Members of Parliament to be using their free speech but desist from making tribal remarks in their debates as it had the potential to divide the nation.

Instead, Dr. Matibini said it was the responsibility of all the Members of Parliament to unite the nation through their free speech during debates. Mr Daka said that inter-tribal marriages had now become common place in Zambia. “In my case, for example, I am married to a Lozi, which means in effect that our children have grandparents who are Nsenga and Lozi. I also have children whose grandparents are Bemba and Lunda-Luvale. So where do you put me?” Mr Daka wondered. He said tribalism only existed in the fertile minds of politicians who wanted to use it for their own selfish ends.