By OLIVER SAMBOKO
THIRTY PF members of Parliament including the leader of opposition, Brian Mundubile were yesterday suspended from the National Assembly for 30 days for protesting in the House contrary to the parliamentary privileges.
Mr Mundubile and Mr Christopher Kang’ombe, have also been removed from the Committee on Privileges and Absences for taking part in the protest.
The MPs protested after the executive attempted to bring for consideration a Head of Expenditure which was based on a non-existent constitutional provision.
Those suspended are Shiwang’andu MP Stephen Kampyongo, Pambashe MP Ronald Chitotela, Mr Mundubile, Chitambo MP Remember Mutale, Kawambwa MP Nixon Chilangwa, Mandevu MP Christopher Shakafuswa, Chawama’s Tasila Lungu, Kamfinsa MP Christopher Kang’ombe and Chilubi MP Mulenga Fube among others.
Their suspension is effective yesterday, to Wednesday, April 13, 2022. However, with regard to Ms Lungu, who is in the United Kingdom attending a Commonwealth Parliamentary Association seminar, the suspension will be effective Monday, March 21.
Their suspension follows a point of order raised by Local Government and Rural Development Minister Garry Nkombo, and his Justice counterparty Mulambo Haimbe on whether the PF members of Parliament were in order to misconduct themselves in the house, and whether they were in order to remain in the house after disrespecting parliament.
And giving her ruling, , first Deputy Attractor Chisangano said the members breached the National Assembly privileges and in contempt of the House, as the only acceptable way of doing protests in parliament is through walkouts.
She ruled that the conduct by the PF MPs in the house that day resulted in disturbance and the disruption of the business of the House, forcing the Deputy Chairperson to suspend business.
She said while it was noted that all of them were first offenders, their conduct caused a disruption of the proceedings of the House, and additionally, the members, were neither apologetic nor remorseful for their conduct.
Ms Chisangano also said after the scrutiny of the list of members who protested it was revealed that contrary to the allegation that some independent Members of Parliament had participated in the protest, only PF members participated.
She said the House is extremely displeased with their gross misconduct of carrying out a protest in the chamber and thereby disrupting the proceedings, and warned that parliament will not tolerate gross indiscipline and misconduct from any member of the House.
