Suspended MPs challenge Speaker

Thu, 22 Jun 2017 10:46:31 +0000

BY CHIKUMBI KATEBE

IT IS our democratic right to boycott the State of the Nation address to Parliament by the Republican President and the withholding of our allowances is not provided for under the law as punishment for absenteeism from the House, the 48 UPND Members of Parliament have told the Lusaka High Court.

And the UPND MPs have asked the High Court to stay execution of the decision of the Speaker of the National Assembly, Dr Patrick Matibini, to bar them from attending parliamentary sessions, as well as allow them access to Parliament Motel and receive their allowances pending the hearing.

This is contained in an application for judicial review filed on behalf of the 48 MPs  by Nalikwanda MP, Geoffrey Lungwangwa.

Professor Lungwangwa, in his affidavit, argued that the Speaker made the decision to suspend the 48 UPND MPs without following the due procedures of the House as he did not confer with the Committee on Privileges as required.

In a separate development, Forum for Democracy and Development secretary general Antionio Mwanza has demanded for Parliament to revise and normalise emoluments for MPS in Zambia.

Mr Mwanza says the colossal amounts of money paid to MPs was immoral.

Mr Mwanza said it was immoral for an MP to be getting K12,000 a week in sitting allowances, K500 for accommodation allowance per day and a monthly salary of K31,000, upkeep allowance, tax free food and beer and transport.

“Sitting allowance K3, 000 per sitting. Multiply that by 4 sittings per week, it comes to K12, 000 per month per MP. And if an MP sits in two committees he walks away with K9, 000 per day.

“Forget about the tax-free vehicle, traveling allowances, plus a staggering gratuity of about K500, 000 after five years,” he said.