By NATION REPORTER
VICE PRESIDENT Mutale Nalumango has warned of impending hunger in the country but assured that Government would ensure that there would be enough food for the people.
And Speaker of the National Assembly Nelly Mutti yesterday admonished Chushi Kasanda, the Minister of Information and Media after her disrespectful conduct in Parliament in which she made an offensive gesture and walked out of the House.
Vice-President Nalumango has said there is need for Parliament to set up a committee to deal and monitor hunger and disasters in constituencies.
The Vice President said this when she was responding to a question from UPND Shang’ombo MP Mubika Mubika who wanted to know what government was doing about the hunger situation in his constituency and some parts of Western Province.
“There is serious hunger in Western Province such that some people are faking illness so that they eat at the hospital. What is government doing to help these people?” Mr Mubika asked.
But Ms Nalumango said Parliament needed to have a committee to deal with issues of disasters because many constituencies were crying of hunger.
“This means government must continuously feed people from different constituencies. It is a big issue and therefore we need to start tackling these issues together.
“The crisis of food is big this season where you think one would have harvested even just five bags to feed on in the next five months. It is not an easy task, but government will try everything possible to feed people,” Ms Nalumango said.
And Speaker of the National Assembly Nelly Mutti yesterday admonished Information and Media Minister Chushi Kasanda who is said to have misconducted herself in the House by gesturing offensively.
On March 3, 2023, PF Chinsali Member of Parliament Kalalwe Mukosa rose on a point of order alleging that Ms Kasanda was disrespectful towards the Second Deputy Speaker and the House when she walked without bowing and made an offensive gesture.
Making a ruling yesterday, Speaker Mutti said Ms Kasanda’s conduct was disrespectful to the House and a breach of powers and privileges of members.
“From the fore going, it is clear, that Hon C Kanda, was in breach of parliamentary privileges and in contempt of the House. She was therefore out of order,” Ms Mutti said.
The Speaker however took cognizance that at the time Ms Kasanda misconducted herself, there was general disorder in the House with members of both sides of the divide making running commentaries.
“I further consider that she was the first offender and was apologetic in her conduct. I wish to caution her to desist from such conduct which tends to disrupt the business and bring the House into odium, ridicule and disrespect,” Ms Mutti ruled.
She said Zambians need to produce a lot of maize so that people can be cushioned against the high cost of living and prices of the staple food stabilises.
Ms Nalumnago said this in response to PF Pambashe MP Ronald Chitotela who asked what government was doing to stabilize mealie-meal for Zambians who are not managing.
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