Mon, 19 Jun 2017 09:42:22 +0000
By SIMON MUNTEMBA
THE UPND opposition Members of Parliament had exposed their ignorance to the public by alleging that the ruling party might manipulate the Constitution in their absence, because it was not possible to make constitutional changes without the required threshold and without 30 days’ notice, the Patriotic Front (PF) has charged.
In an interview, PF parliamentary chief whip Richard Musukwa said his party had no plans of making any constitutional changes during the period that 48 UPND members of parliament were on suspension.
And Mr Musukwa has rubbished claims by the opposition MPs that his party was colluding with the Speaker to dupe the opposition saying the allegations were baseless and untrue. Commenting on the statement by the 48 suspended MPs who fear that the ruling party might manipulate the Constitution in their absence, Musukwa said it was not possible to make constitutional changes without the required threshold and without 30 days’ notice.
“Again, these UPND MPs had exposed their ignorance to the public by stating that the ruling party might manipulate the Constitution in their absence, because it was not possible to make constitutional changes without the required threshold and without 30 days’ notice.
“As a law-abiding government, we have no plans to bring constitutional changes using the back door, there is no credibility in that. We can’t do that even if we had an opportunity to do that during their absence, because we are a law-abiding government that follows the procedures and rules.
“But we advise our friends in UPND to just show remorse by being quiet and ensuring that the disciplinary procedure finishes instead of issuing statements which are unpalatable. I think the ruling of the Speaker is very clear that they should shut up until after 30 days period,” Mr. Musukwa said.
Mr Musukwa charged that the suspended UPND MPs were just frustrated because they thought that they would continue to hold Parliament in low esteem adding that members of the public should just ignore their ranting.
And Mr Musukwa charged that the suspended MPs had demonstrated to be ignorant about the provisions of the Constitution and the circumstances under which it would be amended. “So to insinuate that in their absence we are going to bring amend the Constitution is misplaced, the party is ignorant. Am actually surprised that seasoned UPND MPs can actually insinuate that we intend to bring constitutional reforms in their absence when it’s not possible, may be its deliberate just to incite the citizens to rise against government. But Zambians are not dull to buy this cheap lie,” he said.
The PF parliamentary chief whip further said Parliament sessions should not be politicized and commended the Speaker of the National Assembly for having evoked the provisions of the standing orders to ensure that decorum is restored and discipline is maintained among the MPs.
In his ruling regarding the decision by the opposition party MPs to abscond the address of the State of the National Address (SONA) by President Edgar Lungu, the Speaker had found them guilty and during the suspension they are not allowed to enter Parliament grounds or access accommodation, facilities at Parliament Motel and also without pay.
