Wed, 12 Jul 2017 13:00:50 +0000
By MUKOSELA KASALWE
PARLIAMENT has approved President Edgar Lungu’s declaration of a State of threatened public emergency for 90 days.
85 Members of Parliament voted in the affirmative, a motion moved by Vice President Inonge Wina on the declaration of threatened State of Public emergency under Statutory Instrument No.53 of 2017 made on July 5, 2017 by President Lungu.
This followed a debate by law makers who gave their views on the need to extend the motion to avoid the likelihood of bringing about a State of Emergency.
First Deputy Speaker of the National Assembly Catherine Namugala asked the House to vote either yes or no to the motion using the electronic voting pattern.
The Deputy Speaker said 85 votes were yes and that there was none opposed to the motion and stated the votes were in favour of the majority.
“85 MPs have voted yes none have opposed therefore the majority have it,” she said.
The Vice President thanked the MPs for putting up a well formulated debate and wound-up the debate which lasted for about four hours.
Earlier, Mandevu MP Jean Kapata rose on a point of order on the absent UPND lawmakers asking if they were in order not to represent views of the electorates on an important national matter.
In her ruling on the matter, the Deputy Speaker said MPs present were capable of representing Zambians ably.
Debating the motion, Minister of Justice Given Lubinda said the motion was meant to protect the property and lives of citizens contrary to innuendos by some people whom he said were misleading Zambians.
Minister of Home Affairs Stephen Kampyongo assured all stakeholders that their rights would not be abused by the police or security wings but that wrongdoers should be worried as they will soon be caught.
Eastern Province Minister Makebi Zulu said the country was not in a State of Emergency but that it could be if acts of arson and sabotage were not curtailed.
Mr. Zulu, a seasoned lawyer, said the action taken by President Lungu was necessary and commendable to ensure citizens were protected against saboteurs and lawbreakers.
