By Nation Reporter
THE debate on the budget, which was presented to Parliament on Friday by Dr Situmbeko Musokotwane, the Minister of Finance and National Planning yesterday got hot and resulted in a walkout by opposition MPs.
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Leader of the Opposition Brian Mundubile openly told Second Deputy Speaker Moses Moyo that he would not allow him to have his rights to be trampled upon.
Known for his calmness, Mr Mundubile who is PF Mporokoso MP stood and took up his mantle telling Mr Moyo: “You think this is your House? My rights must not be trampled upon!”
This was after he was earlier denied a point of order, yet it was granted to Mr Cornelius Mweetwa, the Chief Government Spokesperson.
Mr Mundubile who was visibly upset had risen on a point of order after Mr Moyo, the presiding officer had attempted to curtail the debate of Independent Nkana MP, Mr Binwell Mpundu for saying that the Public-Private-Projects such as the Lusaka-Ndola dual carriage way was much more expensive than stated by Dr Musokotwane in his budget presentation.
“Leader of Opposition, it is my role to guide. Order! Wait first! You know, in as much as you want a point of order, you are talking on top of your voice. Let’s be candid with each other! Maybe you want me to send you out? You want me to send you out? Go outside. Leave the Chamber if you want to dictate how I should conduct business. I will not allow you to dictate because you are the Leader of the Opposition,” Mr Moyo said.
But Mr Mundubile shook his head apparently saying he did not want to be sent out.
The Speaker later allowed Mr Mweetwa to rise on a point of order.
Mr Mweetwa, the newly appointed Minister of Information and Media said. Are the members on your left in order to introduce an alien act that when the Speaker is speaking they are conducting in an engagement that has never happened in the last two terms I have been in this House….when we were in the opposition, we would simply walk out.”
Mr Mweetwa said it is understandable that from the time PF lost elections, they had become unruly in Parliament.
But Mr Mundubile interjected: “We will not sit here and watch you abuse us.”
“This is the evidence of unruly behaviour. When the Speaker is speaking you sit down,” Mr Mweetwa hit back.
Mr Moyo reserved his ruling to study the matter.
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