Fri, 22 Sep 2017 12:44:22 +0000
By Mukosela Kasalwe
LEADER of the opposition in the National Assembly Jack Mwiimbu has appealed to people aggrieved with Finance Minister Felix Mutati to stop their bickering against the minister as their action is negatively affecting Zambia’s economy.
Mr Mwiimbu appealed to people who may have personal differences with Mr Mutati, who is MMD leader, to amicably and as soon as possible find an appropriate way to register their displeasure.
He said no sooner had anti-Mutati slogans began than the Kwacha which was generally performing well depreciated.
Mr Mwiimbu said disturbing Mr Mutati or his office was as good as disturbing the economy and that events of the past few weeks had the potential to negatively impact the economy.
Mr Mwiimbu said the minister was expected to present the National budget soon and wondered how he was expected to perform well following the anti-Mutati slogans by some section of the society.
“If you have personal differences with Mr Mutati, amicably settle them. My appeal is that stop it, we saw how the Kwacha depreciated immediately anti-Mutati slogans began. This is affecting the Zambian economy,” he said.
Earlier, Speaker of the National Assembly Patrick Matibini guided Mr Mwiimbu not to cite the name of the Finance minister but instead say the office.
And Mr Mwiimbu has asked Dr Matibini to set up a Parliamentary Committee to look into the issue of the purchase for the fire engines and come up with a report.
He said the fire engines were basic and could not cost as much as 1 million dollars each.
Mr Mwiimbu also expressed concern with the money involved for the Lusaka-Ndola Dual carriage way and described it as exorbitant before Roan MP Chishimba Kambwili interjected and said it stinks of corruption.
Dr Matibini asked Mr Kambwili to wait for his time as he would equally be allowed to debate President Edgar Lungu’s speech to Parliament. And Mazabuka MP Garry Nkombo said President Lungu’s speech called for love and tranquility but that some of their members had been attacked by alleged PF thugs for their affliaciation and ethnicity.
But Feira Independent MP Stephen Miti said President Lungu’s speech to Parliament had brought renewed hope for the people of Feira.
